The answer is that the Deny statement explicitly denies s3:PutObject to the secrets/ prefix, which overrides the Allow. This is because AWS IAM evaluates all policies with an explicit Deny taking precedence over any Allow, regardless of the order in which they are written. For the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of IAM policy evaluation logic, specifically how a Deny can block access even when a broader Allow exists. A common trap is assuming that a more specific Allow will override a general Deny, but in AWS, any explicit Deny is absolute. To remember this, think of the IAM evaluation rule: explicit Deny is the final word—it acts like a veto that no Allow can overturn.
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 data engineer is troubleshooting an AWS Glue job that writes data to an S3 bucket. The IAM role attached to the Glue job has the policy shown in the exhibit. The job fails when writing to the 'secrets/' prefix but succeeds when writing to other prefixes. What is the reason for the failure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Deny statement explicitly denies PutObject to the secrets/ prefix.
Option B is correct because the Deny statement explicitly denies s3:PutObject to the secrets/ prefix, which overrides the Allow. Option A is wrong because the resource is correctly specified for both statements. Option C is wrong because the Deny is explicit. Option D is wrong because the job can write to other prefixes.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 job does not have permission to write to the bucket at all.
Why it's wrong here
It can write to other prefixes.
✗
The resource ARN in the Allow statement does not include the bucket itself.
Why it's wrong here
The Allow covers all objects.
✗
The Deny statement is not effective because it is placed after the Allow.
Why it's wrong here
Deny always overrides Allow regardless of order.
✓
The Deny statement explicitly denies PutObject to the secrets/ prefix.
Why this is correct
Deny overrides Allow.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DEA-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Deny statement explicitly denies PutObject to the secrets/ prefix. — Option B is correct because the Deny statement explicitly denies s3:PutObject to the secrets/ prefix, which overrides the Allow. Option A is wrong because the resource is correctly specified for both statements. Option C is wrong because the Deny is explicit. Option D is wrong because the job can write to other prefixes.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DEA-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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