AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional — Question 868

A company is building an AWS landing zone and has asked a Solutions Architect to design a multi-account access strategy that will allow hundreds of users to use corporate credentials to access the AWS Console. The company is running a Microsoft Active Directory, and users will use an AWS Direct Connect connection to connect to AWS. The company also wants to be able to federate to third-party services and providers, including custom applications.
Which solution meets the requirements by using the LEAST amount of management overhead?

Answer options

• A. Connect the Active Directory to AWS by using single sign-on and an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) with SAML 2.0, and then configure the Identity Provider (IdP) system to use form-based authentication. Build the AD FS portal page with corporate branding, and integrate third-party applications that support SAML 2.0 as required.
• B. Create a two-way Forest trust relationship between the on-premises Active Directory and the AWS Directory Service. Set up AWS Single Sign-On with AWS Organizations. Use single sign-on integrations for connections with third-party applications.
• C. Configure single sign-on by connecting the on-premises Active Directory using the AWS Directory Service AD Connector. Enable federation to the AWS services and accounts by using the IAM applications and services linking function. Leverage third-party single sign-on as needed.
• D. Connect the company's Active Directory to AWS by using AD FS and SAML 2.0. Configure the AD FS claim rule to leverage Regex and a common Active Directory naming convention for the security group to allow federation of all AWS accounts. Leverage third-party single sign-on as needed, and add it to the AD FS server.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

AWS Single Sign-On (now AWS IAM Identity Center) combined with AWS Organizations offers a highly scalable, multi-account access solution with minimal administrative effort. By establishing a two-way Forest trust with AWS Directory Service, on-premises Active Directory users can easily authenticate to AWS. This solution avoids the high management and maintenance overhead of deploying and configuring a self-managed AD FS infrastructure.