- A
Apply an SCP to the AWS account that mandates MFA for all users.
Why wrong: Incorrect: SCPs apply to AWS accounts and OUs, not to individual IAM users.
- B
Create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users.
Correct: IAM policies can use conditions to require MFA for access.
- C
Enable MFA on the root user and share credentials with all users.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Root user MFA does not enforce MFA for IAM users.
- D
Configure the account password policy to require MFA.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Password policy does not enforce MFA; it only sets password requirements.
Question 984 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 in its AWS account use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for console login. Which action should be taken to ensure compliance?
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 IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users.
The correct action is to create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users. This policy uses a condition key like 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' to block API calls when MFA is not used, effectively enforcing MFA for console login. Option A is incorrect because service control policies (SCPs) apply at the AWS Organizations level, not to individual IAM users, and cannot enforce MFA on console login. Option C is wrong because sharing root user credentials violates security best practices and does not enforce MFA for each user. Option D is incorrect because AWS account password policies do not include an MFA requirement; they only manage password complexity and rotation.
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.
- ✗
Apply an SCP to the AWS account that mandates MFA for all users.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: SCPs apply to AWS accounts and OUs, not to individual IAM users.
- ✓
Create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users.
Why this is correct
Correct: IAM policies can use conditions to require MFA for access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable MFA on the root user and share credentials with all users.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Root user MFA does not enforce MFA for IAM users.
- ✗
Configure the account password policy to require MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Password policy does not enforce MFA; it only sets password requirements.
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.
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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users. — The correct action is to create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present and attach it to all IAM users. This policy uses a condition key like 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' to block API calls when MFA is not used, effectively enforcing MFA for console login. Option A is incorrect because service control policies (SCPs) apply at the AWS Organizations level, not to individual IAM users, and cannot enforce MFA on console login. Option C is wrong because sharing root user credentials violates security best practices and does not enforce MFA for each user. Option D is incorrect because AWS account password policies do not include an MFA requirement; they only manage password complexity and rotation.
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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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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.
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