Quick Answer
The answer is the Action element. In an IAM policy, the Action element is specifically designed to list the API operations that are either allowed or denied, such as 'GetItem' and 'Query' for DynamoDB, making it the correct choice to grant read-only access. While the Effect element determines whether access is allowed or denied, and the Resource element specifies which DynamoDB tables are affected, only the Action element can restrict permissions to precise API calls. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how IAM policy structure maps to service-level permissions, often appearing in scenarios where you must differentiate between broad read access and granular action-level control. A common trap is confusing Action with Resource, but remember that Action governs what you can do, while Resource governs where you can do it. For a quick memory tip: think of Action as the "verb" of your policy—it defines the allowed verbs like GetItem and Query, while Resource is the "noun" specifying the target DynamoDB tables.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. 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 data engineer needs to grant an IAM role read-only access to Amazon DynamoDB tables in a specific AWS account. Which IAM policy element should be used to restrict access to only the 'GetItem' and 'Query' actions?
Resource
Why wrong: Resource specifies the ARN of the DynamoDB tables.
Action
Action specifies the API actions like GetItem and Query.
Effect
Why wrong: Effect defines Allow or Deny, not specific actions.
Condition
Why wrong: Condition adds conditions for policy evaluation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Action
The 'Action' element specifies the allowed API actions. 'Effect' is 'Allow' or 'Deny'. 'Resource' specifies the ARN. 'Condition' adds conditions. So Action is correct.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Resource
Why it's wrong here
Resource specifies the ARN of the DynamoDB tables.
Action
Why this is correct
Action specifies the API actions like GetItem and Query.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Effect
Why it's wrong here
Effect defines Allow or Deny, not specific actions.
Condition
Why it's wrong here
Condition adds conditions for policy evaluation.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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
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
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.
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FAQ
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: Action — The 'Action' element specifies the allowed API actions. 'Effect' is 'Allow' or 'Deny'. 'Resource' specifies the ARN. 'Condition' adds conditions. So Action is correct.
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.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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