SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": [
"ec2:RunInstances",
"ec2:StartInstances"
],
"Resource": "arn:aws:ec2:*:*:instance/*",
"Condition": {
"StringNotEquals": {
"ec2:InstanceType": ["t2.micro", "t2.small"]
}
}
}
]
}Refer to the exhibit. An organization applies this SCP to an OU containing a developer account. A developer in that account tries to launch an m5.large instance using the AWS Management Console. What is the outcome?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse SCPs with IAM policies, thinking an explicit allow in IAM can override an SCP deny, but SCPs act as a boundary that cannot be bypassed by any IAM permission.
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 launch fails because the SCP denies RunInstances for instance types other than t2.micro and t2.small.
The SCP explicitly denies the ec2:RunInstances action when the condition key ec2:InstanceType does not match t2.micro or t2.small. Since m5.large is not in the allowed list, the deny effect applies, and the launch fails regardless of any IAM policy that might allow it. SCPs act as a guardrail that overrides IAM permissions, so even if the developer has full IAM access, the SCP blocks the operation.
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 instance launches successfully because the SCP only applies to StartInstances, not RunInstances.
Why it's wrong here
The SCP in the exhibit includes a Deny statement for both ec2:RunInstances and ec2:StartInstances. Since launching an EC2 instance requires the RunInstances API call, the SCP applies directly to the launch action; it is not limited to StartInstances, which only starts a previously stopped instance. Therefore, the developer's launch attempt is blocked by the SCP itself.
- ✓
The launch fails because the SCP denies RunInstances for instance types other than t2.micro and t2.small.
Why this is correct
The SCP uses a condition such as ec2:InstanceType StringNotEquals t2.micro,t2.small. For an m5.large launch, the condition evaluates to true because m5.large is not in the allowed list, so the Deny statement applies and the RunInstances call is explicitly denied. The launch fails because the requested instance type does not match the only two approved types, regardless of any IAM policy that might allow it.
- ✗
The instance launches successfully because the SCP does not explicitly allow any actions.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs act as a guardrail at the account level and do not require an explicit Allow statement to be effective; the default is to allow everything that is not denied. The question is whether a Deny matches the request, not whether an Allow exists. Because this SCP's Deny statement matches an m5.large launch, the action is blocked even though the SCP has no Allow statements.
- ✗
The launch fails only if the developer's IAM policy also denies the action.
Why it's wrong here
AWS IAM evaluates SCPs before evaluating the user's IAM policies, so an SCP Deny is an absolute veto that cannot be overridden by an IAM allow. The developer's IAM policy might grant ec2:RunInstances, but the SCP denial for non-approved instance types takes precedence and the launch still fails. Therefore, the failure is caused by the SCP alone, not by the developer's IAM policy.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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