Quick Answer
The answer is to use the IAM Credential Report to identify and disable inactive IAM users. This report generates a CSV file containing critical columns like `password_last_used` and `access_key_last_used_date`, which directly show the last time a user authenticated or used their access keys, making it the most accurate native method to find users with no activity for 90 days. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to audit user credentials efficiently without third-party tools, and a common trap is to suggest CloudTrail or Config rules, which are overkill for a simple user-level inactivity check. The key distinction is that the Credential Report is purpose-built for this exact task—it aggregates all user activity in one export. Memory tip: think of the Credential Report as your "inactivity radar" for both passwords and keys, giving you a single CSV snapshot to spot and disable stale accounts.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 security engineer notices that an IAM user has been inactive for 90 days. What is the best way to identify and disable such users?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Use CloudTrail to identify users with no recent events
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs events but not aggregated inactivity.
Use AWS Config rule to detect inactive users
Why wrong: Config does not track user activity.
Use IAM Credential Report and disable users with no activity in 90 days
Credential Report shows last usage.
Use AWS Organizations to disable users
Why wrong: Organizations does not track user activity.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use IAM Credential Report and disable users with no activity in 90 days
The IAM Credential Report provides a comprehensive CSV export of all IAM users in the account, including the `password_last_used` and `access_key_last_used_date` columns. This allows a security engineer to directly identify users who have had no activity for 90 days and then disable them by applying an IAM policy with a `Deny` effect or removing their credentials. It is the most straightforward, native, and accurate method for this specific task.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use CloudTrail to identify users with no recent events
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs events but not aggregated inactivity.
Use AWS Config rule to detect inactive users
Why it's wrong here
Config does not track user activity.
Use IAM Credential Report and disable users with no activity in 90 days
Why this is correct
Credential Report shows last usage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Use AWS Organizations to disable users
Why it's wrong here
Organizations does not track user activity.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse CloudTrail (which logs events) with the IAM Credential Report (which directly reports user activity), or they assume AWS Config can evaluate user inactivity when it is designed for resource configuration compliance, not behavioral monitoring.
Detailed technical explanation
The IAM Credential Report is generated on demand via the AWS Management Console, CLI (`generate-credential-report`), or API, and it includes granular timestamps for password last used, access key 1 last used, and access key 2 last used. A common real-world scenario is a security engineer automating this check with a script that parses the report, compares dates against a 90-day threshold, and then applies a `DenyAll` IAM policy to the identified users. Note that the report only captures activity within the last 365 days; if a user has never logged in, the field will show `N/A` or `no_information`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use IAM Credential Report and disable users with no activity in 90 days — The IAM Credential Report provides a comprehensive CSV export of all IAM users in the account, including the `password_last_used` and `access_key_last_used_date` columns. This allows a security engineer to directly identify users who have had no activity for 90 days and then disable them by applying an IAM policy with a `Deny` effect or removing their credentials. It is the most straightforward, native, and accurate method for this specific task.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
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 security engineer notices that an IAM user has been performing suspicious actions in an AWS account. The engineer needs to generate a credential report to identify the age of the user's access keys. Which AWS CLI command should the engineer run?
hardWhy B: Option C is correct because generate-credential-report creates the report, and get-credential-report retrieves it. Option A is wrong because list-access-keys only lists keys without age. Option B is wrong because get-account-authorization-details is not for credential reports. Option D is wrong because generate-service-last-accessed-details is for services.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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