DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
A data engineer needs to grant an IAM user the ability to view Amazon CloudWatch Logs log groups and stream log events from a specific log group. Which IAM policy action should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
DEA-C01 often tests the confusion between read actions (DescribeLogGroups, GetLogEvents, FilterLogEvents) and write/admin actions (PutLogEvents, CreateLogGroup, DeleteLogGroup), catching candidates who pick PutLogEvents thinking it 'streams' logs to a viewer.
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
✓
logs:DescribeLogGroups and logs:GetLogEvents
Viewing log groups requires logs:DescribeLogGroups, and reading/streaming log events from a specific group requires logs:GetLogEvents (or logs:FilterLogEvents for filtered reads). Together these two actions satisfy the read-only requirement. They map directly to the CloudWatch Logs API calls DescribeLogGroups and GetLogEvents.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
logs:DescribeLogGroups and logs:GetLogEvents
Why this is correct
The `logs:DescribeLogGroups` action permits listing and viewing log groups, while `logs:GetLogEvents` retrieves individual log events from a specified log group. Together they satisfy both stated requirements: viewing CloudWatch Logs log groups and streaming log events from the specific log group named in the stem.
- ✗
logs:PutLogEvents
Why it's wrong here
logs:PutLogEvents writes events into a log stream; it does not permit viewing log groups or reading streamed events, so it fails the stated requirement. It is tempting because it is a core CloudWatch Logs action, but it would be correct only for a producer sending log data.
- ✗
logs:CreateLogGroup
Why it's wrong here
logs:CreateLogGroup creates a new log group; it grants no permission to list existing groups or read streamed events, so it fails the viewing requirement. It is tempting because it is a genuine CloudWatch Logs action, but it would be correct only when provisioning new log groups.
- ✗
logs:DeleteLogGroup
Why it's wrong here
logs:DeleteLogGroup removes a log group entirely, granting no ability to view groups or stream events, so it fails the requirement. It is tempting as a genuine CloudWatch Logs action, but it would be correct only for lifecycle cleanup of obsolete log groups.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
This DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 exam.