The answer is to enable MFA devices for all IAM users, attach an IAM policy that denies all actions unless MFA is present, and use IAM Access Analyzer to validate that policy. This works because enforcing MFA for all IAM users requires a two-step process: first, each user must have a physical or virtual MFA device assigned, otherwise a policy requiring MFA would lock them out; second, you must apply a conditional deny policy that blocks any API call unless the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` key is true. IAM Access Analyzer then validates that the policy is correctly structured and not overly permissive, which is a critical step often overlooked. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of least privilege and conditional authorization—a common trap is assuming simply enabling MFA devices is enough, but without the deny policy, users can still access the console without MFA. Memory tip: think "Device, Deny, Validate"—assign the device, write the deny condition, then run Access Analyzer.
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 wants to enforce that all IAM users use MFA. Which THREE actions should be taken to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable MFA devices for all IAM users.
Option B is correct because enabling MFA devices for all IAM users is a prerequisite for enforcing MFA usage. Without an assigned MFA device, a user cannot authenticate via MFA, and any policy requiring MFA would lock them out. This action ensures each user has a physical or virtual MFA device associated with their IAM user account.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create an IAM policy that denies all actions unless MFA is authenticated.
Why this is correct
Policy condition aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use IAM Access Analyzer to validate policies.
Why this is correct
Access Analyzer helps ensure policies are effective.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Single Sign-On (SSO) with MFA.
Why it's wrong here
SSO does not affect IAM users.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing IAM password policy settings with MFA enforcement mechanisms, leading candidates to select option A, which does not exist in AWS IAM.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The IAM policy in option C uses a condition key like `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` with a value of `false` to deny all actions unless MFA is authenticated. This policy must be attached to all users or groups, and it evaluates at each API call; if the session does not have an MFA-authenticated token, the request is denied. Option D, IAM Access Analyzer, validates policies for overly permissive statements but does not enforce MFA; it is a policy analysis tool, not an enforcement mechanism.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Enable MFA devices for all IAM users. — Option B is correct because enabling MFA devices for all IAM users is a prerequisite for enforcing MFA usage. Without an assigned MFA device, a user cannot authenticate via MFA, and any policy requiring MFA would lock them out. This action ensures each user has a physical or virtual MFA device associated with their IAM user account.
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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Question Discussion
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