- A
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition iam:InstanceProfile is not set to the required profile ARN.
SCPs apply to all accounts in the organization and can deny actions based on conditions.
- B
Attach an IAM policy to all users that denies ec2:RunInstances unless an instance profile is specified.
Why wrong: This does not prevent launching instances via roles or services that bypass user policies.
- C
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition ec2:InstanceProfile is not set.
Why wrong: The correct condition key is iam:InstanceProfile, not ec2:InstanceProfile.
- D
Use AWS Config rule ec2-instance-profile-attached to detect non-compliant instances and automatically terminate them.
Why wrong: AWS Config is detective; automatic termination may cause disruptions and is not preventive.
Using Service Control Policies to Enforce IAM Instance Profiles on EC2
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 organization has a multi-account AWS environment using AWS Organizations. The security team needs to ensure that no Amazon EC2 instances are launched without an IAM instance profile that includes a specific role. Which preventive control should be implemented?
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
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition iam:InstanceProfile is not set to the required profile ARN.
Option A is correct because AWS Organizations Service Control Policies (SCPs) can be applied to all accounts in the organization to prevent actions across all principals. By using the `iam:InstanceProfile` condition key with the `ec2:RunInstances` action, the SCP denies the launch of any EC2 instance that does not have the required IAM instance profile attached. This is a preventive control that blocks the action before it occurs, ensuring compliance across the entire multi-account environment.
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.
- ✓
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition iam:InstanceProfile is not set to the required profile ARN.
Why this is correct
SCPs apply to all accounts in the organization and can deny actions based on conditions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to all users that denies ec2:RunInstances unless an instance profile is specified.
Why it's wrong here
This does not prevent launching instances via roles or services that bypass user policies.
- ✗
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition ec2:InstanceProfile is not set.
Why it's wrong here
The correct condition key is iam:InstanceProfile, not ec2:InstanceProfile.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rule ec2-instance-profile-attached to detect non-compliant instances and automatically terminate them.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config is detective; automatic termination may cause disruptions and is not preventive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the condition key `iam:InstanceProfile` (which is correct for IAM instance profiles) with `ec2:InstanceProfile` (which does not exist), leading candidates to choose Option C, and also mistaking detective controls like AWS Config for preventive controls, as in Option D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `iam:InstanceProfile` condition key in an SCP evaluates the ARN of the IAM instance profile passed in the `ec2:RunInstances` API call. If no instance profile is specified, the condition key is not set, and the SCP can deny the action using the `Null` condition operator. In a multi-account environment, SCPs are the only mechanism that can enforce a blanket deny across all accounts, including the management account (if applied to the root OU), without requiring per-account IAM policy changes.
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.
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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances when the condition iam:InstanceProfile is not set to the required profile ARN. — Option A is correct because AWS Organizations Service Control Policies (SCPs) can be applied to all accounts in the organization to prevent actions across all principals. By using the `iam:InstanceProfile` condition key with the `ec2:RunInstances` action, the SCP denies the launch of any EC2 instance that does not have the required IAM instance profile attached. This is a preventive control that blocks the action before it occurs, ensuring compliance across the entire multi-account environment.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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