The answer is to enable MFA on each IAM user and attach an IAM policy that denies all actions unless the request includes MFA, using the condition key aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent. This two-step approach works because the policy condition evaluates every API call: if the user has not authenticated with a valid MFA device, the condition fails and the request is denied, effectively enforcing MFA for console access. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity-based policies versus service control policies—a common trap is choosing SCPs, but those apply at the account or OU level, not per user. Remember that enabling MFA alone does nothing without a policy to block non-MFA sessions. Memory tip: think "Enable + Enforce" — first turn on the device, then lock the door with the condition.
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 requirement that all IAM users must use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the AWS Management Console. Which TWO steps should the company take to enforce 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 each IAM user.
Option A and D are correct. Option A: enabling MFA on each user is the first step. Option D: an IAM policy with a condition for aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent denies access if MFA is not present. Option B is wrong because the root user should not be used for daily tasks. Option C is wrong because password policy does not force MFA. Option E is wrong because SCPs do not enforce MFA at the user level.
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.
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: Enable MFA devices for each IAM user. — Option A and D are correct. Option A: enabling MFA on each user is the first step. Option D: an IAM policy with a condition for aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent denies access if MFA is not present. Option B is wrong because the root user should not be used for daily tasks. Option C is wrong because password policy does not force MFA. Option E is wrong because SCPs do not enforce MFA at the user level.
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.
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 →
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. A company wants to enforce that all IAM users use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the AWS Management Console. What is the best way to achieve this?
easy
A.Enable MFA in the account settings.
✓ B.Attach an IAM policy to all users that denies console access without MFA.
C.Set a password policy that requires MFA.
D.Use an SCP to deny access if MFA is not present.
Why B: Option D is correct because an IAM policy with a condition requiring MFA for console access is the standard approach. Option A is wrong because MFA is not enforced by default. Option B is wrong because password policy does not enforce MFA. Option C is wrong because SCPs are not typically used for user-level MFA enforcement.
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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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