- A
The user is not assigned to the AWS account in Identity Center
Account assignment is required.
- B
The user has not set up MFA
Why wrong: MFA may be optional.
- C
The permission set does not include the necessary policies
Why wrong: AdministratorAccess includes full access.
- D
The user does not have permissions to manage permission sets
Why wrong: Users don't manage permission sets.
SCS-C02 Permission set Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: permission set. 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 uses AWS IAM Identity Center (AWS SSO) to manage access. A user is assigned to a permission set that grants AdministratorAccess. However, when the user tries to access the AWS console, they receive an error that they are not authorized. What is a possible reason?
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
The user is not assigned to the AWS account in Identity Center
Option A is correct because in AWS IAM Identity Center, a user must be assigned to both a permission set and an AWS account. The error occurs when the user has the permission set but not the account assignment. Option B is incorrect because MFA is about authentication, not authorization; the user could be authenticated but still lack access to the account. Option C is incorrect because the permission set already includes AdministratorAccess, which provides full permissions; the issue is the account assignment. Option D is incorrect because the error is about accessing the console, not about managing permission sets.
Key principle: Permission set
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The user is not assigned to the AWS account in Identity Center
Why this is correct
Account assignment is required.
Related concept
Permission set
- ✗
The user has not set up MFA
Why it's wrong here
MFA may be optional.
- ✗
The permission set does not include the necessary policies
Why it's wrong here
AdministratorAccess includes full access.
- ✗
The user does not have permissions to manage permission sets
Why it's wrong here
Users don't manage permission sets.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Permission set
- Account assignment
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Permission set
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review permission set, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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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 — Permission set.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user is not assigned to the AWS account in Identity Center — Option A is correct because in AWS IAM Identity Center, a user must be assigned to both a permission set and an AWS account. The error occurs when the user has the permission set but not the account assignment. Option B is incorrect because MFA is about authentication, not authorization; the user could be authenticated but still lack access to the account. Option C is incorrect because the permission set already includes AdministratorAccess, which provides full permissions; the issue is the account assignment. Option D is incorrect because the error is about accessing the console, not about managing permission sets.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review permission set, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Permission set
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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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