The answer is rds:StartDBInstance and rds:StopDBInstance, as these two actions represent the minimum permissions needed to manage RDS database uptime without granting broader control. This aligns with the least privilege IAM policy for EC2 and RDS access by restricting developers to only starting and stopping instances, rather than allowing destructive or administrative actions like modifying or deleting databases. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this tests your ability to identify granular actions that satisfy a specific operational need while avoiding overly permissive wildcards or invalid actions—a common trap is selecting broad actions like rds:* or misremembering valid action names. A useful memory tip is to think of "start and stop" as the bare minimum for lifecycle management: if the developer only needs to toggle database availability, those two actions are sufficient, and anything more violates least privilege.
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 is designing an IAM policy to grant a group of developers access to manage EC2 instances and RDS databases. Which TWO actions should be included to follow the principle of least privilege?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ec2:StartInstances
Options B and C are correct because they specify the minimum actions needed. Option A is not a valid action. Option D is too broad. Option E is not a valid action.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
rds:CreateDBInstance
Why it's wrong here
Creating DB instances is not necessary for managing existing instances.
✓
ec2:StartInstances
Why this is correct
'ec2:StartInstances' is a specific action needed to start EC2 instances.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
ec2:CreateInstances
Why it's wrong here
'ec2:CreateInstances' is not a valid action; the correct action is 'ec2:RunInstances'.
✓
rds:StartDBInstance
Why this is correct
'rds:StartDBInstance' is a specific action needed to start RDS instances.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
ec2:*
Why it's wrong here
Wildcard '*' gives full access to EC2, which violates least privilege.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ec2:StartInstances — Options B and C are correct because they specify the minimum actions needed. Option A is not a valid action. Option D is too broad. Option E is not a valid action.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.