- A
AWS Signer
Why wrong: Signer is for code signing.
- B
AWS Directory Service
Why wrong: Directory Service is for managing Microsoft AD.
- C
Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities)
Cognito Identity Pools issue temporary AWS credentials.
- D
AWS IAM roles for cross-account access
Why wrong: IAM roles are for cross-account, not for mobile apps.
Question 1,513 of 1,748
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.
A company wants to provide temporary security credentials to users accessing AWS resources from a mobile app. Which AWS service should they use?
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
✓
Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities)
Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities) allow you to create unique identities for your users and federate them with identity providers. With an identity pool, you can obtain temporary, limited-privilege AWS credentials to access other AWS services. This is the correct service for providing temporary security credentials to users accessing AWS resources from a mobile app. Option A (AWS Signer) is for code signing, not temporary credentials. Option B (AWS Directory Service) is for managing Microsoft Active Directory, not for generating temporary credentials. Option D (AWS IAM roles for cross-account access) is for granting access between AWS accounts, not for mobile app users.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS Signer
Why it's wrong here
Signer is for code signing.
- ✗
AWS Directory Service
Why it's wrong here
Directory Service is for managing Microsoft AD.
- ✓
Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities)
Why this is correct
Cognito Identity Pools issue temporary AWS credentials.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
AWS IAM roles for cross-account access
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles are for cross-account, not for mobile apps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities) — Amazon Cognito Identity Pools (Federated Identities) allow you to create unique identities for your users and federate them with identity providers. With an identity pool, you can obtain temporary, limited-privilege AWS credentials to access other AWS services. This is the correct service for providing temporary security credentials to users accessing AWS resources from a mobile app. Option A (AWS Signer) is for code signing, not temporary credentials. Option B (AWS Directory Service) is for managing Microsoft Active Directory, not for generating temporary credentials. Option D (AWS IAM roles for cross-account access) is for granting access between AWS accounts, not for mobile app users.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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