- A
IAM role for EC2
Roles provide temporary credentials via instance metadata.
- B
Service control policies (SCPs)
Why wrong: SCPs are used to manage permissions across accounts.
- C
IAM user access keys
Why wrong: Access keys are long-term credentials that should not be stored on instances.
- D
Resource-based policies on S3
Why wrong: These grant access but do not eliminate the need for credentials.
Question 280 of 1,000
SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of systems and application 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.
An organization using AWS IAM wants to grant an EC2 instance permissions to access an S3 bucket without storing long-term credentials on the instance. Which IAM feature should be used?
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
✓
IAM role for EC2
IAM roles for EC2 instances allow the instance to assume a role and obtain temporary credentials from STS, avoiding the need for long-term keys.
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.
- ✓
IAM role for EC2
Why this is correct
Roles provide temporary credentials via instance metadata.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Service control policies (SCPs)
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are used to manage permissions across accounts.
- ✗
IAM user access keys
Why it's wrong here
Access keys are long-term credentials that should not be stored on instances.
- ✗
Resource-based policies on S3
Why it's wrong here
These grant access but do not eliminate the need for credentials.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SSCP 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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Systems and Application Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Systems and Application Security — This question tests Systems and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: IAM role for EC2 — IAM roles for EC2 instances allow the instance to assume a role and obtain temporary credentials from STS, avoiding the need for long-term keys.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which SSCP 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: Jul 4, 2026
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.
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