- A
Attach an IAM policy to the user in Account A that allows access to the S3 bucket.
Why wrong: Without a resource-based policy in Account B, this alone is insufficient.
- B
Add a bucket policy in Account B that grants access to the user's ARN in Account A.
This allows the user direct access if the IAM policy in Account A also allows S3 actions.
- C
Use a service control policy (SCP) in Account B to allow access from Account A.
Why wrong: SCPs are used to restrict permissions, not to grant access.
- D
Create an IAM role in Account B with permissions to the bucket and allow the user in Account A to assume that role.
This is a common cross-account access method.
- E
Add an IAM policy to the S3 bucket in Account B granting access to the user.
Why wrong: S3 buckets have bucket policies, not IAM policies.
Quick Answer
The answer is that creating an IAM role in Account B with permissions to the bucket and allowing the user in Account A to assume that role is one of the two valid methods for cross-account S3 access. This works because cross-account access requires an explicit trust relationship: the resource account (Account B) must delegate access through either a bucket policy that grants access to a specific IAM user in Account A, or an IAM role that the external user can assume. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that IAM policies in the user’s own account alone cannot grant access to resources in another account—the resource account must also authorize the request. A common trap is confusing SCPs with access grants; remember that SCPs only set permission boundaries, not direct access. Memory tip: “Role or policy, but never just your own IAM policy.”
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
Which TWO actions are valid ways to grant an IAM user in Account A access to an S3 bucket in Account B? (Choose 2.)
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
Add a bucket policy in Account B that grants access to the user's ARN in Account A.
Options B and C are correct. B: A bucket policy can grant cross-account access to a specific user. C: A role in Account B can be assumed by the user in Account A. Option A is wrong because IAM users cannot be granted access directly to resources in other accounts via an IAM policy in their own account; the resource account must also grant access. Option D is wrong because the S3 bucket cannot have an IAM policy; it uses bucket policies. Option E is wrong because SCPs are used in AWS Organizations to set permissions boundaries, not to grant access.
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.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to the user in Account A that allows access to the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Without a resource-based policy in Account B, this alone is insufficient.
- ✓
Add a bucket policy in Account B that grants access to the user's ARN in Account A.
Why this is correct
This allows the user direct access if the IAM policy in Account A also allows S3 actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a service control policy (SCP) in Account B to allow access from Account A.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are used to restrict permissions, not to grant access.
- ✓
Create an IAM role in Account B with permissions to the bucket and allow the user in Account A to assume that role.
Why this is correct
This is a common cross-account access method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add an IAM policy to the S3 bucket in Account B granting access to the user.
Why it's wrong here
S3 buckets have bucket policies, not IAM policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a bucket policy in Account B that grants access to the user's ARN in Account A. — Options B and C are correct. B: A bucket policy can grant cross-account access to a specific user. C: A role in Account B can be assumed by the user in Account A. Option A is wrong because IAM users cannot be granted access directly to resources in other accounts via an IAM policy in their own account; the resource account must also grant access. Option D is wrong because the S3 bucket cannot have an IAM policy; it uses bucket policies. Option E is wrong because SCPs are used in AWS Organizations to set permissions boundaries, not to grant access.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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