The answer is that the SCP denies all EC2 actions because there is no explicit allow statement. This is the correct choice because SCPs operate on a default-deny model, meaning every action is implicitly denied unless a corresponding explicit Allow is present. The policy in question only denies non-t3.micro instance types, but without an explicit Allow for ec2:RunInstances, the implicit deny blocks all EC2 launches, including t3.micro instances. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how SCPs interact with IAM policies—specifically that SCPs set a boundary of maximum permissions and cannot grant access on their own. A common trap is assuming that a Deny statement for certain resources implies an Allow for everything else, but SCPs require explicit Allow statements to override the implicit deny. Memory tip: think of SCPs as a "blacklist without a whitelist"—if you don't explicitly say "yes," the answer is always "no."
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 security engineer attaches the above SCP to an OU containing development accounts. The engineer expects that only t3.micro instances can be launched, but developers report that they cannot launch any EC2 instances. What is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The SCP denies all ec2 actions because there is no explicit allow statement.
Option D is correct because SCPs operate on a default-deny model: all actions are implicitly denied unless explicitly allowed. The policy only denies non-t3.micro instance types but does not include an explicit Allow statement for ec2:RunInstances or any other EC2 action. Without an explicit Allow, the implicit deny blocks all EC2 actions, including launching t3.micro instances.
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 SCP syntax is invalid because it uses Deny without an explicit Allow.
Why it's wrong here
Deny statements are valid in SCPs.
✗
The condition StringNotEquals is evaluated incorrectly for EC2 instance types.
Why it's wrong here
The condition is syntactically correct.
✗
The SCP is applied at the organization root and overrides the OU-level policy.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs can be attached at any level, but the exhibit shows an OU-level policy.
✓
The SCP denies all ec2 actions because there is no explicit allow statement.
Why this is correct
SCPs do not grant permissions; they only filter what is allowed by IAM. Without an explicit allow, the default is deny.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a Deny statement with a condition implicitly allows all other actions, forgetting that SCPs follow a default-deny model where any action not explicitly allowed is denied.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
SCPs can be attached at any level, but the exhibit shows an OU-level policy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs use an implicit deny model where any action not explicitly allowed is denied. The policy in question uses a Deny effect with a condition, but without an Allow statement for ec2:RunInstances, the implicit deny blocks all EC2 launches. In AWS Organizations, SCPs do not grant permissions—they only filter permissions from IAM policies; the effective permission is the intersection of all SCPs and IAM policies. A common real-world scenario is when engineers mistakenly think a Deny with a condition implicitly allows everything else, but SCPs require explicit Allow for any action to be permitted.
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.
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
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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The SCP denies all ec2 actions because there is no explicit allow statement. — Option D is correct because SCPs operate on a default-deny model: all actions are implicitly denied unless explicitly allowed. The policy only denies non-t3.micro instance types but does not include an explicit Allow statement for ec2:RunInstances or any other EC2 action. Without an explicit Allow, the implicit deny blocks all EC2 actions, including launching t3.micro instances.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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