- A
The root user does not have MFA enabled, as indicated by AccountMFAEnabled being 1 (true) but that means MFA is enabled? Actually, the summary shows AccountMFAEnabled: 1, which means MFA is enabled for the root account? Wait, the key is "AccountMFAEnabled" which indicates if the account (root) has MFA enabled. 1 means true. So MFA is enabled. But there are access keys present. The critical finding is that the root user has access keys.
The get-account-summary shows AccountAccessKeysPresent: 2, meaning the root account has two access keys. Root access keys are a security risk and should be removed.
- B
The root user's console login succeeded, which indicates that the root account password is weak.
Why wrong: The event shows a successful login, but that does not indicate weak password. The presence of access keys is more critical.
- C
The root user logged in successfully from an unknown IP address.
Why wrong: While root login is concerning, it may be legitimate. The more critical finding is the lack of MFA on the root account.
- D
The IP address 203.0.113.5 is not from the company's trusted IP range.
Why wrong: While unusual, the most critical issue per AWS best practices is root access keys.
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer is investigating a potential compromise. What is the most critical finding?
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
The root user does not have MFA enabled, as indicated by AccountMFAEnabled being 1 (true) but that means MFA is enabled? Actually, the summary shows AccountMFAEnabled: 1, which means MFA is enabled for the root account? Wait, the key is "AccountMFAEnabled" which indicates if the account (root) has MFA enabled. 1 means true. So MFA is enabled. But there are access keys present. The critical finding is that the root user has access keys.
AWS best practice is to delete root user access keys and enable MFA. The exhibit shows the root account has two access keys (AccountAccessKeysPresent: 2), which is a significant security risk. Option B correctly identifies this.
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.
- ✓
The root user does not have MFA enabled, as indicated by AccountMFAEnabled being 1 (true) but that means MFA is enabled? Actually, the summary shows AccountMFAEnabled: 1, which means MFA is enabled for the root account? Wait, the key is "AccountMFAEnabled" which indicates if the account (root) has MFA enabled. 1 means true. So MFA is enabled. But there are access keys present. The critical finding is that the root user has access keys.
Why this is correct
The get-account-summary shows AccountAccessKeysPresent: 2, meaning the root account has two access keys. Root access keys are a security risk and should be removed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The root user's console login succeeded, which indicates that the root account password is weak.
Why it's wrong here
The event shows a successful login, but that does not indicate weak password. The presence of access keys is more critical.
- ✗
The root user logged in successfully from an unknown IP address.
Why it's wrong here
While root login is concerning, it may be legitimate. The more critical finding is the lack of MFA on the root account.
- ✗
The IP address 203.0.113.5 is not from the company's trusted IP range.
Why it's wrong here
While unusual, the most critical issue per AWS best practices is root access keys.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The event shows a successful login, but that does not indicate weak password. The presence of access keys is more critical.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The root user does not have MFA enabled, as indicated by AccountMFAEnabled being 1 (true) but that means MFA is enabled? Actually, the summary shows AccountMFAEnabled: 1, which means MFA is enabled for the root account? Wait, the key is "AccountMFAEnabled" which indicates if the account (root) has MFA enabled. 1 means true. So MFA is enabled. But there are access keys present. The critical finding is that the root user has access keys. — AWS best practice is to delete root user access keys and enable MFA. The exhibit shows the root account has two access keys (AccountAccessKeysPresent: 2), which is a significant security risk. Option B correctly identifies this.
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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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