This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Allows PutObject only when the object is NOT encrypted with SSE-KMS.
Option D is correct because the IAM policy uses a `Deny` effect with a `StringNotEquals` condition on `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` for `aws:kms`. This means that if the encryption header is NOT `aws:kms` (i.e., SSE-KMS), the request is denied. The net effect is that `PutObject` is allowed only when the object is encrypted with SSE-KMS, as any other encryption or no encryption triggers the deny.
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.
✗
Denies PutObject when encryption is not SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
The effect is Allow, not Deny.
✗
Denies all PutObject requests.
Why it's wrong here
The policy allows, not denies.
✗
Allows PutObject only when the object is encrypted with SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
StringNotEquals allows when not equal.
✓
Allows PutObject only when the object is NOT encrypted with SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
The condition StringNotEquals allows only if encryption is not KMS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates misread `StringNotEquals` as `StringEquals`, thinking the policy denies SSE-KMS encryption, when in fact it denies everything except SSE-KMS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This policy leverages the `Deny` with `NotPrincipal` or `NotResource` pattern, but here it uses `StringNotEquals` to create an implicit allow for the matching condition. The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` header is set by the client during `PutObject`; if the header is missing or set to `AES256` (SSE-S3), the condition fails and the deny applies. In practice, this ensures that all objects uploaded to the bucket must be encrypted with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS), providing a centralized encryption key management and audit trail.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allows PutObject only when the object is NOT encrypted with SSE-KMS. — Option D is correct because the IAM policy uses a `Deny` effect with a `StringNotEquals` condition on `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` for `aws:kms`. This means that if the encryption header is NOT `aws:kms` (i.e., SSE-KMS), the request is denied. The net effect is that `PutObject` is allowed only when the object is encrypted with SSE-KMS, as any other encryption or no encryption triggers the deny.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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