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
✓
Users can read items in the Orders table only if the partition key matches their Cognito identity ID.
The policy uses a condition key like `dynamodb:LeadingKeys` with a value referencing `${cognito-identity.amazonaws.com:sub}`. This restricts DynamoDB actions to items where the partition key matches the user's Cognito identity ID, ensuring fine-grained access control. Option D correctly states that users can read items only when the partition key equals their identity ID, which is the intended behavior for row-level security.
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.
✗
Users can read and write items in the Orders table where the partition key matches their Cognito identity ID.
Why it's wrong here
The policy only allows read actions, not write.
✗
Users can read any item in the Orders table using GetItem and Query.
Why it's wrong here
The condition restricts to items with a specific partition key.
✗
Users can scan the entire Orders table but only if they use a filter expression.
Why it's wrong here
Scan is not allowed, and the condition only applies to GetItem and Query.
✓
Users can read items in the Orders table only if the partition key matches their Cognito identity ID.
Why this is correct
The LeadingKeys condition restricts based on the partition key equal to the Cognito sub.
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 often assume the policy grants full read access (Option B) or includes write permissions (Option A), overlooking the critical condition that restricts access to only items matching the user's Cognito identity ID.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DynamoDB evaluates the `dynamodb:LeadingKeys` condition against the partition key of each item before any read operation. This leverages IAM's condition context keys to enforce row-level security without requiring a separate authorization table. In a real-world multi-tenant SaaS application, this pattern ensures that users can only access their own data, even if they attempt to query or scan across partitions.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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: Users can read items in the Orders table only if the partition key matches their Cognito identity ID. — The policy uses a condition key like `dynamodb:LeadingKeys` with a value referencing `${cognito-identity.amazonaws.com:sub}`. This restricts DynamoDB actions to items where the partition key matches the user's Cognito identity ID, ensuring fine-grained access control. Option D correctly states that users can read items only when the partition key equals their identity ID, which is the intended behavior for row-level security.
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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