The answer is that the IAM role used for the CloudWatch Logs export task lacks the s3:PutObject permission on the destination S3 bucket. This is correct because when CloudWatch Logs exports data to S3, it assumes a specified IAM role to perform the write operation; if that role’s policy does not include s3:PutObject, the S3 service denies the request, resulting in the “Access Denied” error. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of IAM role-based permissions for cross-service operations, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly blame bucket policies or network ACLs instead of the export role’s missing write permission. A common memory tip is to remember that “export equals write” — the role must have PutObject, not just GetObject or ListBucket, because the task is pushing data into the bucket. Think of it as “Put for Export” to lock in the concept.
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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.
A company uses Amazon CloudWatch Logs to collect application logs from EC2 instances. The logs are exported to Amazon S3 for long-term storage. Recently, the export task failed with the error 'Access Denied'. What is the most likely cause of this 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 does not have s3:PutObject permission on the destination bucket.
The export task from CloudWatch Logs to S3 uses an IAM role to write data to the destination bucket. If the role lacks the s3:PutObject permission, the S3 service will reject the request with an 'Access Denied' error. This is the most common cause because the export operation requires write access to the bucket.
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 S3 bucket policy denies access from the CloudWatch Logs service.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the error is likely due to missing IAM permissions.
✓
The IAM role does not have s3:PutObject permission on the destination bucket.
Why this is correct
Without PutObject, the export task cannot write logs to S3.
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 does not have s3:ListBucket permission.
Why it's wrong here
Export only needs PutObject, not ListBucket.
✗
The EC2 instances are in a VPC without a VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoint is for sending logs, not exporting.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the permissions needed for exporting logs to S3 (which requires s3:PutObject on the IAM role) with the permissions needed for sending logs from EC2 to CloudWatch Logs (which requires CloudWatch Logs agent permissions and possibly a VPC endpoint).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The CloudWatch Logs export task uses a service-linked IAM role (or a custom role) to assume permissions for writing to S3. The role must have a trust policy allowing logs.amazonaws.com to assume it, and the S3 bucket policy must allow the role's principal to perform s3:PutObject. A common subtlety is that the bucket must also have a bucket policy that explicitly grants the CloudWatch Logs service principal access if the bucket uses a deny-not-allow default, but the primary failure point is the IAM role's permissions.
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 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 does not have s3:PutObject permission on the destination bucket. — The export task from CloudWatch Logs to S3 uses an IAM role to write data to the destination bucket. If the role lacks the s3:PutObject permission, the S3 service will reject the request with an 'Access Denied' error. This is the most common cause because the export operation requires write access to the bucket.
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.
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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