The answer is to delete the IAM user and recreate it with new permissions. This is the most effective immediate action because deleting the user permanently revokes all associated access keys and, crucially, prevents any new keys from being created for that user, closing the security gap entirely. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that deactivating keys or rotating them leaves the compromised user entity intact, which still poses a risk if the old keys are cached or if the user can generate new credentials. A common trap is choosing to simply deactivate the keys, but that does not eliminate the user’s ability to create new ones. For a memory tip, think “delete the door, not just lock it”—removing the IAM user is the only way to ensure no future keys can be issued from that compromised identity.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 developer accidentally committed AWS access keys to a public GitHub repository. The security team needs to immediately revoke the compromised keys and ensure that no new keys are created for that IAM user. What is the most effective immediate action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Delete the IAM user and recreate it with new permissions.
Deleting the IAM user revokes all access keys and prevents any new keys from being created. Option A is wrong because it only deactivates but does not delete. Option B is wrong because changing the password does not affect access keys. Option C is wrong because it only rotates but the old key remains active until deleted.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Rotate the access keys and update the application.
Why it's wrong here
Rotating creates a new key but the old key remains active until deleted; also, the user could create more keys.
✗
Change the IAM user's password.
Why it's wrong here
Password change does not affect access keys.
✓
Delete the IAM user and recreate it with new permissions.
Why this is correct
Deleting the user removes all keys and prevents the user from creating new ones; recreate with necessary permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deactivate the access keys using the AWS Management Console.
Why it's wrong here
Deactivation makes keys inactive but they can be reactivated; also, the user could create new keys.
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
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
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.
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Delete the IAM user and recreate it with new permissions. — Deleting the IAM user revokes all access keys and prevents any new keys from being created. Option A is wrong because it only deactivates but does not delete. Option B is wrong because changing the password does not affect access keys. Option C is wrong because it only rotates but the old key remains active until deleted.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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