- A
AWS Organizations SCP to deny access if keys are older than 90 days.
Why wrong: SCPs deny actions but do not rotate keys.
- B
AWS Config with a custom rule that checks key age and triggers a Lambda function to rotate keys.
AWS Config can evaluate key age and invoke Lambda to rotate.
- C
AWS CloudTrail to monitor key usage and send notifications.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs but does not rotate keys.
- D
AWS Lambda on a schedule to rotate keys.
Why wrong: Lambda can rotate keys but needs to know which keys to rotate; Config provides that.
Question 1,654 of 1,748
Automate IAM Access Key Rotation Using AWS Config and Lambda
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.
A company wants to automate the rotation of IAM user access keys every 90 days. Which AWS service can be used to enforce this?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Config with a custom rule that checks key age and triggers a Lambda function to rotate keys.
The correct answer is B. AWS Config can assess compliance of IAM access keys by using a custom rule that checks the key’s age. When a key is older than 90 days, the rule can trigger a Lambda function to automate key rotation, enforcing the policy. Option A is wrong because AWS Organizations SCPs can deny access based on key age but do not perform rotation. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail monitors API activity and can alert, but it does not rotate keys. Option D is wrong because while Lambda can rotate keys on a schedule, using Config provides a more integrated compliance enforcement mechanism that directly triggers rotation based on policy violations.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS Organizations SCP to deny access if keys are older than 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs deny actions but do not rotate keys.
- ✓
AWS Config with a custom rule that checks key age and triggers a Lambda function to rotate keys.
Why this is correct
AWS Config can evaluate key age and invoke Lambda to rotate.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
AWS CloudTrail to monitor key usage and send notifications.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs but does not rotate keys.
- ✗
AWS Lambda on a schedule to rotate keys.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda can rotate keys but needs to know which keys to rotate; Config provides that.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Identity and Access Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Config with a custom rule that checks key age and triggers a Lambda function to rotate keys. — The correct answer is B. AWS Config can assess compliance of IAM access keys by using a custom rule that checks the key’s age. When a key is older than 90 days, the rule can trigger a Lambda function to automate key rotation, enforcing the policy. Option A is wrong because AWS Organizations SCPs can deny access based on key age but do not perform rotation. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail monitors API activity and can alert, but it does not rotate keys. Option D is wrong because while Lambda can rotate keys on a schedule, using Config provides a more integrated compliance enforcement mechanism that directly triggers rotation based on policy violations.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on SCS-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security engineer notices that an IAM user has been using an access key that was not rotated for over 90 days. What is the BEST action to take?
medium- ✓ A.Disable the user's access key and create a new one.
- B.Do nothing; 90 days is acceptable.
- C.Delete the IAM user and create a new one.
- D.Notify the user and ask them to rotate the key.
Why A: Rotating access keys regularly is a security best practice to reduce the risk of compromised keys.
Variation 2. Which TWO of the following are AWS best practices for managing access keys? (Choose 2.)
easy- A.Use the same access key for multiple users.
- B.Share access keys via email.
- ✓ C.Delete unused access keys.
- ✓ D.Rotate access keys regularly.
- E.Embed access keys directly in application code.
Why C: Option C is correct because AWS best practices recommend deleting unused access keys to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Unused keys represent a potential attack vector, as they may be forgotten and left active, allowing an attacker who discovers them to gain access to AWS resources. By regularly auditing and removing keys that are no longer in use, you minimize the exposure of long-lived credentials.
Variation 3. Which THREE of the following are best practices for managing IAM access keys? (Choose THREE.)
medium- ✓ A.Use IAM roles for EC2 instances instead of access keys
- B.Use long-lived access keys for applications
- ✓ C.Delete unused access keys
- D.Embed access keys in application code for convenience
- ✓ E.Rotate access keys regularly
Why A: The correct best practices are A, C, and E. Using IAM roles for EC2 instances (A) eliminates the need for long-term access keys. Deleting unused access keys (C) reduces risk. Rotating access keys regularly (E) limits exposure if keys are compromised. Option B is incorrect because long-lived access keys increase risk; they should be rotated. Option D is incorrect because embedding access keys in application code is insecure; use IAM roles instead.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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