Cloud-Security-Engineer Identity And Access Security Practice Question
An engineer is investigating a Prisma Cloud finding where an IAM user has active access keys but no associated password for console access. What does this configuration typically indicate?
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 user is intended for programmatic/API access only (such as a service account or developer script)
A user with only programmatic access keys (and no console access) is typically a service account or an automated script identity.
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 account is configured for federated SAML SSO exclusively
Why it's wrong here
Federated users do not use native programmatic access keys in the same manner as programmatic IAM users.
- ✓
The user is intended for programmatic/API access only (such as a service account or developer script)
Why this is correct
Programmatic-only users lack console passwords by design to reduce the human attack surface.
- ✗
The account is the AWS root user
Why it's wrong here
Root users always have console access capabilities.
- ✗
The user account has been disabled by AWS automatically
Why it's wrong here
AWS does not automatically disable console access while leaving keys active.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This Cloud-Security-Engineer practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 Cloud-Security-Engineer exam.