- A
The condition keys used (ec2:InstanceType and ec2:ImageId) are not supported for the RunInstances action in IAM policies.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The condition keys ec2:InstanceType and ec2:ImageId are supported for the RunInstances action in IAM policies.
- B
The policy is attached to the user but must also be attached to the IAM group.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Attaching the policy to a user is sufficient; attaching to a group is not required.
- C
The policy does not include an explicit deny statement for non-compliant launches.
Correct. Without an explicit deny, other policies that allow RunInstances without conditions will permit non-compliant launches.
- D
The condition is written incorrectly; it should use StringLike instead of StringEquals.
Why wrong: Incorrect. StringEquals is appropriate for exact matches; using StringLike would not solve the issue.
SCS-C02 IAM Policy Evaluation 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: iAM Policy Evaluation. 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 has a single AWS account with multiple IAM users. The administrator created an IAM policy that allows all users to launch EC2 instances, but only if they use a specific AMI ID (ami-12345678) and a specific instance type (t3.micro). The policy uses a condition that checks the EC2 instance type and AMI ID. However, a user is able to launch an EC2 instance with a different AMI ID and a larger instance type. The administrator reviews the policy and confirms that the condition is correctly written. What is the most likely reason that the policy is not working as expected?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 policy does not include an explicit deny statement for non-compliant launches.
The most likely reason is that the user has another IAM policy attached (e.g., a managed policy or group policy) that allows ec2:RunInstances without the condition. IAM evaluates all policies; if any allow statement grants the action, the action is permitted unless explicitly denied. The conditional allow only restricts when that specific statement is used, but a separate unconditional allow overrides the condition. Adding an explicit deny for non-compliant launches would block them regardless of other policies.
Key principle: IAM Policy Evaluation
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 condition keys used (ec2:InstanceType and ec2:ImageId) are not supported for the RunInstances action in IAM policies.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The condition keys ec2:InstanceType and ec2:ImageId are supported for the RunInstances action in IAM policies.
- ✗
The policy is attached to the user but must also be attached to the IAM group.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Attaching the policy to a user is sufficient; attaching to a group is not required.
- ✓
The policy does not include an explicit deny statement for non-compliant launches.
Why this is correct
Correct. Without an explicit deny, other policies that allow RunInstances without conditions will permit non-compliant launches.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
IAM Policy Evaluation
- ✗
The condition is written incorrectly; it should use StringLike instead of StringEquals.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. StringEquals is appropriate for exact matches; using StringLike would not solve the issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume that adding a condition to an allow statement is sufficient to restrict actions, but if another allow statement without the condition exists, the condition is ineffective. An explicit deny is required to override other allows.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS IAM condition keys are only evaluated for actions that explicitly support them in the service's authorization context. For `ec2:RunInstances`, the supported condition keys include `ec2:InstanceType`, `ec2:AvailabilityZone`, and `ec2:EbsOptimized`, but notably `ec2:ImageId` is not supported—only `ec2:ImageId` is not a valid key; instead, the AMI ID is part of the request parameters but not exposed as a condition key for RunInstances. This means any condition using `ec2:ImageId` is silently ignored, and the allow statement grants full access to launch any AMI and instance type, a common pitfall when administrators assume all request parameters are available as condition keys.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM Policy Evaluation
- Explicit Deny
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
IAM Policy Evaluation
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review iAM Policy Evaluation, 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 — IAM Policy Evaluation.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy does not include an explicit deny statement for non-compliant launches. — The most likely reason is that the user has another IAM policy attached (e.g., a managed policy or group policy) that allows ec2:RunInstances without the condition. IAM evaluates all policies; if any allow statement grants the action, the action is permitted unless explicitly denied. The conditional allow only restricts when that specific statement is used, but a separate unconditional allow overrides the condition. Adding an explicit deny for non-compliant launches would block them regardless of other policies.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review iAM Policy Evaluation, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
IAM Policy Evaluation
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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