- A
The S3 bucket policy allows full access to all principals
Why wrong: The S3 bucket policy might allow direct access, but this is not the most likely cause because Lake Formation integrates with Athena to enforce permissions; the issue is likely the Athena version.
- B
The users are using a version of Athena that does not support Lake Formation
Correct. Athena engine version 1 does not support Lake Formation integration, so users can bypass Lake Formation permissions and query data directly.
- C
The S3 bucket does not have server-side encryption enabled
Why wrong: Server-side encryption is unrelated to the enforcement of Lake Formation permissions; it does not prevent direct S3 access via Athena.
- D
Lake Formation does not support integration with Athena
Why wrong: Lake Formation does support integration with Athena when using Athena engine version 2 or later. This option is false.
DEA-C01 Lake Formation integration with Athena Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: lake Formation integration with Athena. 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 is using AWS Lake Formation to manage access to data in a data lake stored in Amazon S3. A data engineer notices that users with SELECT permissions on a table can still query the underlying S3 data directly using Athena. What is the most likely cause?
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 choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The users are using a version of Athena that does not support Lake Formation
Option B is correct because Athena workgroups using engine version 1 do not support integration with Lake Formation. In such cases, Lake Formation permissions are not enforced, and users can query the underlying S3 data directly through Athena, bypassing Lake Formation's access controls. Option A is incorrect: while a permissive S3 bucket policy could allow direct access, the most likely cause given Lake Formation integration is the Athena version. Option C is incorrect because server-side encryption does not affect Lake Formation's ability to enforce permissions. Option D is incorrect: Lake Formation does integrate with Athena, but only when using Athena engine version 2 or later.
Key principle: Lake Formation integration with Athena
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 allows full access to all principals
Why it's wrong here
The S3 bucket policy might allow direct access, but this is not the most likely cause because Lake Formation integrates with Athena to enforce permissions; the issue is likely the Athena version.
- ✓
The users are using a version of Athena that does not support Lake Formation
Why this is correct
Correct. Athena engine version 1 does not support Lake Formation integration, so users can bypass Lake Formation permissions and query data directly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Lake Formation integration with Athena
- ✗
The S3 bucket does not have server-side encryption enabled
Why it's wrong here
Server-side encryption is unrelated to the enforcement of Lake Formation permissions; it does not prevent direct S3 access via Athena.
- ✗
Lake Formation does not support integration with Athena
Why it's wrong here
Lake Formation does support integration with Athena when using Athena engine version 2 or later. This option is false.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Lake Formation integration with Athena
- Athena engine version
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
Lake Formation integration with Athena
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review lake Formation integration with Athena, then practise related DEA-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Lake Formation integration with Athena.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The users are using a version of Athena that does not support Lake Formation — Option B is correct because Athena workgroups using engine version 1 do not support integration with Lake Formation. In such cases, Lake Formation permissions are not enforced, and users can query the underlying S3 data directly through Athena, bypassing Lake Formation's access controls. Option A is incorrect: while a permissive S3 bucket policy could allow direct access, the most likely cause given Lake Formation integration is the Athena version. Option C is incorrect because server-side encryption does not affect Lake Formation's ability to enforce permissions. Option D is incorrect: Lake Formation does integrate with Athena, but only when using Athena engine version 2 or later.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review lake Formation integration with Athena, then practise related DEA-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Lake Formation integration with Athena
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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