The answer is that the developer must call ecr:GetAuthorizationToken and authenticate to the registry before pushing an image. The AmazonEC2ContainerRegistryPowerUser policy grants permissions for pushing and pulling images, but it deliberately excludes the ecr:GetAuthorizationToken action, which is required to obtain a temporary password for Docker client authentication. Without this token, any push attempt returns an AccessDeniedException, even if the user has full push permissions on the repository itself. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that ECR authentication is a separate, prerequisite step from repository operations—a common trap is assuming PowerUser includes all necessary actions. Remember: you must get the token before you can push; PowerUser gives you the keys to the car, but not the key to start the engine. A useful memory tip is "Token first, push second"—without the authorization token, every ECR operation fails with access denied.
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
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 developer is trying to push an image to Amazon ECR but receives an 'AccessDeniedException' error. The developer's IAM user has the 'AmazonEC2ContainerRegistryPowerUser' managed policy attached. What is the most likely reason for the failure?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The developer needs to call 'ecr:GetAuthorizationToken' and authenticate to the registry.
Option B is correct because ECR requires authentication via 'ecr:GetAuthorizationToken' which is not included in the PowerUser policy. Option A is wrong because the error is not about resource policy. Option C is wrong because the error is access denied, not unsupported media type. Option D is wrong because the error is not about image size.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 developer needs to call 'ecr:GetAuthorizationToken' and authenticate to the registry.
Why this is correct
ECR requires an authorization token before pushing; PowerUser policy does not include GetAuthorizationToken.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
The developer is pushing from an unsupported region.
Why it's wrong here
Regions are supported; error would be different.
✗
The ECR repository has a resource policy that denies the push.
Why it's wrong here
The error is likely due to missing action, not resource policy.
✗
The image is too large for ECR.
Why it's wrong here
Image size limits exist but error would be different.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The developer needs to call 'ecr:GetAuthorizationToken' and authenticate to the registry. — Option B is correct because ECR requires authentication via 'ecr:GetAuthorizationToken' which is not included in the PowerUser policy. Option A is wrong because the error is not about resource policy. Option C is wrong because the error is access denied, not unsupported media type. Option D is wrong because the error is not about image size.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 →
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.
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.