- A
Delete the root user account.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The root user account cannot be deleted; it is the account owner and is required for certain administrative tasks.
- B
Disable the root user password and require all logins via IAM users.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Disabling the root user password does not prevent root user logins via password recovery or the AWS Management Console; it is not a comprehensive security control.
- C
Enable IAM Access Analyzer to detect and alert on root user activity.
Why wrong: Incorrect. IAM Access Analyzer analyzes resource-based policies for unintended access, but it does not generate findings for console login events or monitor root user activity.
- D
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user.
Correct. Enabling MFA for the root user provides strong protection against compromise by requiring a second factor. This is the recommended next step after detecting a root user login to improve security.
SCS-C02 Root User Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: root User. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer runs this AWS CLI command to investigate root user logins. The output shows a successful ConsoleLogin event. What should the engineer do next to improve security?
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
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user.
Option D is correct because enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for an attacker to compromise the root account even if the password is known. While AWS recommends avoiding routine use of the root user, the root account cannot be deleted; instead, securing it with MFA is a best practice. Options A and B are incorrect because root user cannot be deleted, and disabling the password alone does not prevent root user login via password recovery or other methods. Option C is incorrect because IAM Access Analyzer analyzes resource-based policies for unintended access, not root user activity; it does not generate findings for ConsoleLogin events.
Key principle: Root User
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Delete the root user account.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The root user account cannot be deleted; it is the account owner and is required for certain administrative tasks.
- ✗
Disable the root user password and require all logins via IAM users.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Disabling the root user password does not prevent root user logins via password recovery or the AWS Management Console; it is not a comprehensive security control.
- ✗
Enable IAM Access Analyzer to detect and alert on root user activity.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. IAM Access Analyzer analyzes resource-based policies for unintended access, but it does not generate findings for console login events or monitor root user activity.
- ✓
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user.
Why this is correct
Correct. Enabling MFA for the root user provides strong protection against compromise by requiring a second factor. This is the recommended next step after detecting a root user login to improve security.
Related concept
Root User
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may confuse IAM Access Analyzer (which analyzes resource policies) with AWS CloudTrail or Amazon GuardDuty (which can monitor root user activity). The question asks for the next step after detecting a root user login, which is to secure the root user with MFA, not to enable a service that does not monitor such events.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAM Access Analyzer uses a policy-based analysis engine to identify resources shared with external principals, and it can also generate findings for root user activity by analyzing CloudTrail logs. Under the hood, Access Analyzer leverages the Zone of Trust concept, where it continuously evaluates resource policies against the specified trust zone; for root user monitoring, it can be configured to alert on any ConsoleLogin event from the root user, which is logged as a CloudTrail event with the userIdentity type 'Root'. In a real-world scenario, a security engineer might combine this with CloudWatch Events or EventBridge to trigger automated incident response workflows, such as revoking root user access keys or notifying the security team.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Root User
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- IAM Access Analyzer
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Root User
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 root User, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Root User.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user. — Option D is correct because enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for an attacker to compromise the root account even if the password is known. While AWS recommends avoiding routine use of the root user, the root account cannot be deleted; instead, securing it with MFA is a best practice. Options A and B are incorrect because root user cannot be deleted, and disabling the password alone does not prevent root user login via password recovery or other methods. Option C is incorrect because IAM Access Analyzer analyzes resource-based policies for unintended access, not root user activity; it does not generate findings for ConsoleLogin events.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review root User, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Root User
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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