The answer is to deny the action guardduty:StopMonitoringMembers. This is the correct SCP because while many assume disabling GuardDuty requires the guardduty:DisableGuardDuty action, the actual mechanism for a delegated administrator to remove member accounts from centralized monitoring is StopMonitoringMembers, which effectively disables the service’s coverage across those accounts. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of how SCPs interact with GuardDuty’s multi-account architecture and the specific API calls that control monitoring status. A common trap is choosing guardduty:DisableGuardDuty or guardduty:DeleteDetector, but those actions only affect a single account’s detector, not the cross-account monitoring relationship. Remember the memory tip: “Stop the members, stop the monitoring” — focus on the action that severs the link between the administrator and member accounts to prevent disabling GuardDuty at scale.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
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 company uses AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team needs to ensure that no account can disable Amazon GuardDuty. Which SCP should be applied?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deny action: guardduty:StopMonitoringMembers
SCPs can deny specific actions. The correct SCP denies the StopMonitoringMember action for GuardDuty.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Deny action: guardduty:StopMonitoringMembers
Why this is correct
This prevents member accounts from disabling GuardDuty monitoring by the administrator.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Deny action: guardduty:DisableGuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
The correct action is StopMonitoringMembers for member accounts.
✗
Deny action: guardduty:UpdateDetector
Why it's wrong here
This could disable but not as direct; StopMonitoringMembers is explicit.
✗
Deny action: guardduty:DeleteDetector
Why it's wrong here
Deleting a detector stops GuardDuty, but StopMonitoringMembers is the direct action for member accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deny action: guardduty:StopMonitoringMembers — SCPs can deny specific actions. The correct SCP denies the StopMonitoringMember action for GuardDuty.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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