← SCS-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 1,040 of 1,748

Data Protection →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Enforce EBS Encryption with a Specific KMS Key Using SCP

This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 company uses AWS KMS to encrypt EBS volumes. The security team wants to ensure that when an EC2 instance is launched, the attached EBS volumes are always encrypted using a specific customer managed key. Which action will enforce this?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.

A
Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny ec2:RunInstances if the volume encryption key is not the required key
SCPs can enforce key usage across the account.
B
Create an IAM role that requires the ec2:RunInstances action to include the kms:KeyId condition
Why wrong: IAM roles are not used to enforce encryption policies.
C
Configure the KMS key policy to allow only the specific key for EBS encryption
Why wrong: Key policy does not enforce which key is used at launch.
D
Enable encryption by default for EBS volumes in the account
Why wrong: Default encryption uses the default KMS key, not a specific one.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny ec2:RunInstances if the volume encryption key is not the required key

Option A is correct. A service control policy (SCP) can be used to deny the ec2:RunInstances action if the volume encryption key is not the required customer managed key, thereby enforcing the use of that specific key. Option B is incorrect because an IAM role does not enforce encryption; it only allows the action with a condition, but the condition can be bypassed if not properly implemented. Option C is incorrect because a KMS key policy controls who can use the key, but it does not enforce which key is used when launching instances. Option D is incorrect because enabling encryption by default uses the account's default EBS encryption key, not necessarily the specific customer managed key required by the security team.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny ec2:RunInstances if the volume encryption key is not the required key
Why this is correct
SCPs can enforce key usage across the account.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Create an IAM role that requires the ec2:RunInstances action to include the kms:KeyId condition
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles are not used to enforce encryption policies.
✗
Configure the KMS key policy to allow only the specific key for EBS encryption
Why it's wrong here
Key policy does not enforce which key is used at launch.
✗
Enable encryption by default for EBS volumes in the account
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption uses the default KMS key, not a specific one.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Read the ACL from top to bottom.
Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

SCS-C02 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SCS-C02 question test?

Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny ec2:RunInstances if the volume encryption key is not the required key — Option A is correct. A service control policy (SCP) can be used to deny the ec2:RunInstances action if the volume encryption key is not the required customer managed key, thereby enforcing the use of that specific key. Option B is incorrect because an IAM role does not enforce encryption; it only allows the action with a condition, but the condition can be bypassed if not properly implemented. Option C is incorrect because a KMS key policy controls who can use the key, but it does not enforce which key is used when launching instances. Option D is incorrect because enabling encryption by default uses the account's default EBS encryption key, not necessarily the specific customer managed key required by the security team.

What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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 →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

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.

Loading comments…

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.