SCS-C02 Root User Practice Question
Network Topology
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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.
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.
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
The AWS account root user cannot be deleted; it persists for billing and account recovery, so this action is technically impossible. It is tempting because removing a risky credential seems decisive, but the correct hardening is disabling root access keys and enforcing MFA on the root user.
- ✗
Disable the root user password and require all logins via IAM users.
Why it's wrong here
The root user password cannot be disabled; root credentials remain recoverable for account-level tasks, so this control cannot be applied. It is tempting because forcing IAM users appears to eliminate root exposure, but the achievable hardening is MFA on root plus removing root access keys.
- ✗
Enable IAM Access Analyzer to detect and alert on root user activity.
Why it's wrong here
IAM Access Analyzer evaluates resource policies for external access, not CloudTrail authentication events, so it cannot detect or alert on root console logins. It is tempting because it is an IAM security service, but root activity monitoring requires CloudWatch alarms or EventBridge rules on CloudTrail.
- ✓
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user.
Why this is correct
A successful root ConsoleLogin without MFA leaves the account's most privileged identity protected by a password alone. Enabling MFA for the root user adds a second authentication factor, satisfying the requirement to strengthen security after confirming root console access.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.