- A
The security group contains an inbound rule with a source of 0.0.0.0/0 for port 80, which is too permissive and triggers a service control policy (SCP) that denies launching instances with overly permissive rules.
Why wrong: Incorrect. SCPs cannot deny actions based on the content of security group rules (e.g., permissiveness). They can only deny based on resource identifiers like security group IDs.
- B
The security group allows inbound HTTPS from the entire RFC 1918 address space, but the instance is in a public subnet.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Allowing inbound HTTPS from RFC 1918 space does not cause an authorization error; it may affect connectivity but not the launch itself.
- C
The security group allows outbound all traffic, which violates the principle of least privilege.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Outbound all traffic does not violate any AWS policy that would cause an authorization error; it is a common configuration.
- D
The instance type t2.micro is not available in the specified subnet's Availability Zone.
Correct. An SCP can deny specific instance types in certain Availability Zones, leading to an 'UnauthorizedOperation' error despite the user having ec2:RunInstances permission. The error message may appear as 'UnauthorizedOperation' when an SCP denies the action.
Why an SCP Denies EC2 Launch Even with Permissions
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: service Control Policy (SCP). 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 developer receives an 'UnauthorizedOperation' error when launching an EC2 instance with the specified security group. The developer has permissions to use ec2:RunInstances. What is the most likely cause?
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 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 instance type t2.micro is not available in the specified subnet's Availability Zone.
The 'UnauthorizedOperation' error occurs because a service control policy (SCP) explicitly denies the ec2:RunInstances action for the t2.micro instance type in the specified Availability Zone. Although the developer has the ec2:RunInstances permission, the SCP overrides it. Option A is incorrect because SCPs cannot evaluate security group rule content such as overly permissive rules; they can only deny based on resource attributes like security group IDs. Options B and C describe network or security best practices but do not cause authorization errors.
Key principle: Service Control Policy (SCP)
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 security group contains an inbound rule with a source of 0.0.0.0/0 for port 80, which is too permissive and triggers a service control policy (SCP) that denies launching instances with overly permissive rules.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. SCPs cannot deny actions based on the content of security group rules (e.g., permissiveness). They can only deny based on resource identifiers like security group IDs.
- ✗
The security group allows inbound HTTPS from the entire RFC 1918 address space, but the instance is in a public subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Allowing inbound HTTPS from RFC 1918 space does not cause an authorization error; it may affect connectivity but not the launch itself.
- ✗
The security group allows outbound all traffic, which violates the principle of least privilege.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Outbound all traffic does not violate any AWS policy that would cause an authorization error; it is a common configuration.
- ✓
The instance type t2.micro is not available in the specified subnet's Availability Zone.
Why this is correct
Correct. An SCP can deny specific instance types in certain Availability Zones, leading to an 'UnauthorizedOperation' error despite the user having ec2:RunInstances permission. The error message may appear as 'UnauthorizedOperation' when an SCP denies the action.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Service Control Policy (SCP)
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume 'UnauthorizedOperation' always indicates missing IAM permissions, but SCPs can cause this error even when the user has explicit Allow, due to an explicit deny on specific resources or conditions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Service control policies (SCPs) in AWS Organizations can use condition keys like ec2:SecurityGroupInboundRule to deny actions that would create or launch resources with overly permissive security group rules. For example, an SCP can deny ec2:RunInstances if the request includes a security group with an inbound rule allowing 0.0.0.0/0 on port 80, as this is a common misconfiguration that exposes instances to the internet. This mechanism allows central governance teams to enforce security baselines without modifying individual IAM policies.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Service Control Policy (SCP)
- UnauthorizedOperation Error
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
Service Control Policy (SCP)
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.
Review service Control Policy (SCP), then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Service Control Policy (SCP).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The instance type t2.micro is not available in the specified subnet's Availability Zone. — The 'UnauthorizedOperation' error occurs because a service control policy (SCP) explicitly denies the ec2:RunInstances action for the t2.micro instance type in the specified Availability Zone. Although the developer has the ec2:RunInstances permission, the SCP overrides it. Option A is incorrect because SCPs cannot evaluate security group rule content such as overly permissive rules; they can only deny based on resource attributes like security group IDs. Options B and C describe network or security best practices but do not cause authorization errors.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review service Control Policy (SCP), then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Service Control Policy (SCP)
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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