- A
A trust policy on the IAM role that allows the user's account to assume the role.
Why wrong: The role trust policy is necessary but not sufficient; the bucket policy must also grant the role access.
- B
An S3 bucket policy that allows the user to access the bucket.
Why wrong: The bucket policy alone does not grant the user permission to assume the role.
- C
An IAM role with a trust policy allowing the user's account and a bucket policy granting the role access to the bucket.
Both policies are required for cross-account access via role assumption.
- D
A resource-based policy on the S3 bucket that allows the user's account.
Why wrong: Resource-based policies can grant direct access to another account, but the user still needs to authenticate, and role assumption may not be needed.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is an IAM role with a trust policy allowing the user's account and a bucket policy granting the role access to the bucket. This is because cross-account access to an S3 bucket requires a two-way authorization handshake: the trust policy on the IAM role in the target account must explicitly permit the source account’s users to assume that role, while the bucket’s resource-based policy must then grant the assumed role identity the necessary S3 actions (like s3:GetObject). On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the interplay between identity-based and resource-based policies, and it often appears as a distractor where one policy is omitted. A common trap is thinking a trust policy alone is sufficient, but without the bucket policy allowing the role, the role has no permissions on the bucket. Remember the two-step rule: trust first, then resource policy—or as a memory tip, think “Who can assume me?” (trust policy) and “What can I do?” (bucket policy).
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management 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. 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 allow users to assume a role in another AWS account to access a specific S3 bucket. What must be configured?
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
An IAM role with a trust policy allowing the user's account and a bucket policy granting the role access to the bucket.
Option C is correct because both the trust policy (in the account with the role) and the resource-based policy (on the bucket) must allow access. Option A is wrong because a trust policy alone is insufficient; the bucket policy must also grant access. Option B is wrong because the bucket policy alone is insufficient; the role trust policy must allow the user to assume the role. Option D is wrong because resource-based policies alone cannot grant cross-account role assumption.
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.
- ✗
A trust policy on the IAM role that allows the user's account to assume the role.
Why it's wrong here
The role trust policy is necessary but not sufficient; the bucket policy must also grant the role access.
- ✗
An S3 bucket policy that allows the user to access the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
The bucket policy alone does not grant the user permission to assume the role.
- ✓
An IAM role with a trust policy allowing the user's account and a bucket policy granting the role access to the bucket.
Why this is correct
Both policies are required for cross-account access via role assumption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A resource-based policy on the S3 bucket that allows the user's account.
Why it's wrong here
Resource-based policies can grant direct access to another account, but the user still needs to authenticate, and role assumption may not be needed.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
- →
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SCS-C02 questions
1,738 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SCS-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SCS-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Threat Detection and Incident Response practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.
Security Logging and Monitoring practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Management and Security Governance practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.
Infrastructure Security practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.
Data Protection practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.
SCS-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.
SCS-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.
SCS-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SCS-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An IAM role with a trust policy allowing the user's account and a bucket policy granting the role access to the bucket. — Option C is correct because both the trust policy (in the account with the role) and the resource-based policy (on the bucket) must allow access. Option A is wrong because a trust policy alone is insufficient; the bucket policy must also grant access. Option B is wrong because the bucket policy alone is insufficient; the role trust policy must allow the user to assume the role. Option D is wrong because resource-based policies alone cannot grant cross-account role assumption.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.