The correct answer is that the trust policy allows the root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present. This is because the policy’s Condition block uses the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` key set to `true`, which explicitly gates the `sts:AssumeRole` action on the presence of a valid MFA session, while the Principal element restricts the permission to the root user alone. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to parse IAM trust policies with conditional MFA requirements, a common trap being that students overlook the Principal restriction and assume all users in the account can assume the role. Remember the memory tip: “Root plus MFA equals secure assumption”—the policy locks both the identity and the authentication factor.
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present.
Option D is correct because the trust policy allows the root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present. Option A is wrong because it requires MFA. Option B is wrong because it allows the root user, not all users. Option C is wrong because it allows the root user, not specific users.
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.
✗
All IAM users in account 123456789012 to assume the role with MFA.
Why it's wrong here
The principal is the root user, not all users.
✗
The root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role without MFA.
The root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present.
Why this is correct
The principal is root user, and condition requires MFA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Any user in account 123456789012 to assume the role without MFA.
Why it's wrong here
The principal is the root user, and condition requires MFA.
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: The root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present. — Option D is correct because the trust policy allows the root user of account 123456789012 to assume the role only if MFA is present. Option A is wrong because it requires MFA. Option B is wrong because it allows the root user, not all users. Option C is wrong because it allows the root user, not specific users.
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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