Quick Answer
The answer is that this policy denies all actions that are not made over HTTPS. It works by using the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key with a `Bool` condition set to `false`, meaning the policy evaluates whether the request lacks a TLS-secured connection. When the condition is true—indicating an HTTP request—the `Deny` effect blocks every action on every resource, effectively enforcing HTTPS for all API calls. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of how explicit deny with a transport condition overrides any implicit allow; a common trap is assuming the policy also allows HTTPS traffic, but it only denies non-secure requests, leaving HTTPS implicitly allowed. Remember the mnemonic: "Deny the false, allow the secure"—if `aws:SecureTransport` is `false`, the request is blocked, so only HTTPS passes through.
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.
An IAM policy has the following statement: {"Effect":"Deny","Action":"*","Resource":"*","Condition":{"Bool":{"aws:SecureTransport":"false"}}}. What does this policy achieve?
Denies all actions that are not made over HTTPS
Correctly denies when SecureTransport is false.
Allows all actions only when using HTTPS
Why wrong: Deny prevents non-HTTPS, but does not explicitly allow.
Enforces HTTPS for S3 bucket policies only
Why wrong: This policy can be attached to any resource or user.
Blocks all actions for a specific AWS service
Why wrong: Applies to all services.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Denies all actions that are not made over HTTPS
This policy statement uses the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key with a `Bool` condition set to `false`. When the condition evaluates to true (i.e., the request is not using HTTPS/TLS), the `Deny` effect applies to all actions on all resources. This effectively denies any API call made over HTTP (non-secure transport), ensuring that only HTTPS requests are allowed. The policy does not explicitly allow anything; it only denies non-HTTPS traffic, so all actions are implicitly allowed when made over HTTPS.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Denies all actions that are not made over HTTPS
Why this is correct
Correctly denies when SecureTransport is false.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Allows all actions only when using HTTPS
Why it's wrong here
Deny prevents non-HTTPS, but does not explicitly allow.
Enforces HTTPS for S3 bucket policies only
Why it's wrong here
This policy can be attached to any resource or user.
Blocks all actions for a specific AWS service
Why it's wrong here
Applies to all services.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a `Deny` with a `Bool` condition as an implicit `Allow` for the opposite condition, but the policy only denies non-HTTPS requests and does not grant any explicit allow, so all actions are allowed by default when HTTPS is used.
Detailed technical explanation
The `aws:SecureTransport` condition key checks whether the request was sent over TLS/SSL. When set to `false`, it matches requests made over plain HTTP. This is a common pattern for enforcing encryption in transit globally across an AWS account, often used in SCPs or IAM policies to prevent accidental exposure of data. Note that this condition does not check the TLS version or cipher strength—only whether the transport layer is secure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Denies all actions that are not made over HTTPS — This policy statement uses the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key with a `Bool` condition set to `false`. When the condition evaluates to true (i.e., the request is not using HTTPS/TLS), the `Deny` effect applies to all actions on all resources. This effectively denies any API call made over HTTP (non-secure transport), ensuring that only HTTPS requests are allowed. The policy does not explicitly allow anything; it only denies non-HTTPS traffic, so all actions are implicitly allowed when made over HTTPS.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An IAM policy has the following statement: { "Effect": "Deny", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "*", "Condition": { "BoolIfExists": { "aws:SecureTransport": "false" } } }. What does this policy do?
mediumWhy D: Option B is correct because the policy denies all S3 actions when the request is not using HTTPS (SecureTransport false). Option A is wrong because it denies only non-HTTPS. Option C is wrong because it does not allow anything. Option D is wrong because it does not require MFA.
Variation 2. An IAM policy includes the following statement: 'Effect': 'Deny', 'Action': 's3:*', 'Resource': '*', 'Condition': {'Bool': {'aws:SecureTransport': 'false'}}. What does this policy do?
easyWhy A: Option D is correct because the policy denies all S3 actions when the request is not using HTTPS. Option A is wrong because it denies, not allows. Option B is wrong because it denies all S3 actions, not just certain ones. Option C is wrong because it denies all S3 actions, not just to a specific bucket.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.