The answer is that the IAM role is missing the s3:PutObject permission on the DataBrew output bucket. This is the most likely cause because AWS Glue DataBrew writes intermediate results and final recipe outputs to a separate S3 bucket, not the source bucket. Even though the role has s3:GetObject and s3:ListBucket for reading source data, the DataBrew job fails with an access denied error when it attempts to write those outputs, which requires the s3:PutObject action. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that DataBrew’s IAM role must cover both read and write permissions across distinct buckets, a common trap where candidates focus only on source access. A helpful memory tip is “DataBrew writes before it reads”—the job needs PutObject on the output bucket first, or it will fail silently.
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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.
A company uses AWS Glue DataBrew to clean and prepare data for machine learning. The source data is in an S3 bucket with server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS). The DataBrew project is set up with an IAM role that has permissions to read from the S3 bucket and use the KMS key. When the DataBrew job runs, it fails with an error indicating that it cannot access the data. The IAM role has the following policy: { 'Version': '2012-10-17', 'Statement': [ { 'Effect': 'Allow', 'Action': ['s3:GetObject', 's3:ListBucket'], 'Resource': ['arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket', 'arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*'] }, { 'Effect': 'Allow', 'Action': 'kms:Decrypt', 'Resource': 'arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456789012:key/my-key' } ] }. What is the most likely cause of the failure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The IAM role is missing s3:PutObject permission on the DataBrew output bucket.
Option C is correct because DataBrew uses a separate S3 bucket for storing intermediate outputs and recipe results. The IAM role needs s3:PutObject permission on that bucket. The error typically manifests as access denied when DataBrew tries to write. Option A is wrong because the role has kms:Decrypt permission. Option B is wrong because DataBrew does not require VPC endpoints by default. Option D is wrong because the role includes s3:ListBucket.
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.
✓
The IAM role is missing s3:PutObject permission on the DataBrew output bucket.
Why this is correct
DataBrew writes to its own S3 bucket for job outputs; missing write permission causes failure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The IAM role is missing s3:ListBucket permission on the source bucket.
Why it's wrong here
The policy already includes s3:ListBucket for the source bucket.
✗
The S3 bucket is in a different region than the DataBrew project.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-region access is allowed as long as permissions are correct; the error is not about region mismatch.
✗
The IAM role is missing kms:GenerateDataKey permission for the KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
DataBrew may need GenerateDataKey for writing encrypted output, but the error is about reading source data.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
DataBrew may need GenerateDataKey for writing encrypted output, but the error is about reading source data.
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 DEA-C01 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.
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IAM role is missing s3:PutObject permission on the DataBrew output bucket. — Option C is correct because DataBrew uses a separate S3 bucket for storing intermediate outputs and recipe results. The IAM role needs s3:PutObject permission on that bucket. The error typically manifests as access denied when DataBrew tries to write. Option A is wrong because the role has kms:Decrypt permission. Option B is wrong because DataBrew does not require VPC endpoints by default. Option D is wrong because the role includes s3:ListBucket.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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