The correct answer is to use AWS Config to check key age and automatically deactivate old keys. AWS Config allows you to define custom or managed rules that evaluate the age of IAM access keys against a 90-day threshold, and you can pair this with an automated remediation action—such as a Lambda function—to disable keys that exceed the limit. This works because there is no native IAM policy condition that can directly check key age; AWS Config fills that gap by continuously monitoring resource configurations and enforcing compliance. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to enforce an IAM access key rotation policy without relying on manual user action, and a common trap is assuming IAM’s password policy applies to access keys (it does not) or that CloudTrail can enforce rotation (it only logs events). Memory tip: think “Config enforces, IAM lacks the force”—AWS Config provides the enforcement mechanism that IAM alone cannot deliver for key rotation.
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 company has a policy that all IAM users must rotate their access keys every 90 days. How can this be enforced?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS Config to check key age and automatically deactivate old keys
IAM access key last used information can be used with a custom policy and a condition that denies access if the key is older than 90 days. However, there is no built-in IAM policy condition for key age. Option C is correct because you can use AWS Config rules to check key age and trigger notifications, but the question asks for enforcement. Option A is wrong because IAM does not have a built-in key rotation policy. Option B is wrong because password policy is for passwords, not access keys. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail is for logging, not enforcement.
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.
✓
Use AWS Config to check key age and automatically deactivate old keys
Why this is correct
AWS Config rules can check key age and trigger Lambda to deactivate old keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an IAM password policy to set the key rotation period
Why it's wrong here
Password policy is for passwords, not access keys.
✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor key usage and send alerts
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs events but does not enforce rotation.
✗
Use an IAM policy with a condition for key age
Why it's wrong here
There is no condition key for access key age.
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 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.
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 — 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: Use AWS Config to check key age and automatically deactivate old keys — IAM access key last used information can be used with a custom policy and a condition that denies access if the key is older than 90 days. However, there is no built-in IAM policy condition for key age. Option C is correct because you can use AWS Config rules to check key age and trigger notifications, but the question asks for enforcement. Option A is wrong because IAM does not have a built-in key rotation policy. Option B is wrong because password policy is for passwords, not access keys. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail is for logging, not enforcement.
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.
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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
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