Quick Answer
The correct answer is that this policy allows the user to pass the role MyRole to an AWS service like Lambda. The iam:PassRole permission specifically grants a user or service the ability to delegate a specified IAM role to an AWS service, enabling that service to assume the role’s permissions on your behalf. This is distinct from iam:AssumeRole, which is about a user or service directly assuming a role themselves, not passing it to another service. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept frequently appears in scenarios involving Lambda functions, EC2 instances, or CodePipeline that need temporary credentials to access other AWS resources. A common trap is confusing PassRole with attaching a policy to a user or creating a role—neither of which is permitted by this action. Remember the memory tip: “PassRole is for passing the baton to a service, not for running the race yourself.”
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An IAM policy includes: { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "iam:PassRole", "Resource": "arn:aws:iam::*:role/MyRole" }. What does this allow?
Allows the user to create the role MyRole.
Why wrong: PassRole does not create.
Allows the user to pass the role MyRole to an AWS service like Lambda.
PassRole is used when a service needs to assume a role.
Allows the user to assume the role MyRole.
Why wrong: PassRole is different from AssumeRole.
Allows the user to attach the role to an IAM user.
Why wrong: Roles are not attached to users directly.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Allows the user to pass the role MyRole to an AWS service like Lambda.
Option C is correct because PassRole allows passing a role to an AWS service. Option A is wrong because it's not about assuming. Option B is wrong because it's not about creating. Option D is wrong because it's not about attaching to users.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Allows the user to create the role MyRole.
Why it's wrong here
PassRole does not create.
Allows the user to pass the role MyRole to an AWS service like Lambda.
Why this is correct
PassRole is used when a service needs to assume a role.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Allows the user to assume the role MyRole.
Why it's wrong here
PassRole is different from AssumeRole.
Allows the user to attach the role to an IAM user.
Why it's wrong here
Roles are not attached to users directly.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Allows the user to pass the role MyRole to an AWS service like Lambda. — Option C is correct because PassRole allows passing a role to an AWS service. Option A is wrong because it's not about assuming. Option B is wrong because it's not about creating. Option D is wrong because it's not about attaching to users.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SCS-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SCS-C02 exam.
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