Question 601 of 1,786
Data Operations and SupporteasyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Monitor S3 403 AccessDenied Errors Using CloudWatch

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. A key principle to apply: s3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric. 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 monitor the number of Amazon S3 PUT requests that result in a 403 AccessDenied error. Which CloudWatch metric and dimension should be used?

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

4xxErrors metric with the FilterId dimension set to '403'

Option C is correct. The 4xxErrors metric tracks HTTP 4xx errors for an S3 bucket. By setting the FilterId dimension to '403', you can filter specifically for 403 AccessDenied errors, allowing monitoring of PUT requests that result in AccessDenied.

Key principle: S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • NumberOfObjects metric with the ObjectType dimension.

    Why it's wrong here

    The NumberOfObjects metric counts objects in the bucket, not errors. The ObjectType dimension filters by storage class or object type. This does not monitor PUT request errors.

  • BucketSizeBytes metric with the StorageType dimension.

    Why it's wrong here

    The BucketSizeBytes metric measures bucket storage size, not errors. The StorageType dimension indicates storage tier. This is irrelevant for monitoring 403 errors.

  • 4xxErrors metric with the FilterId dimension set to '403'

    Why this is correct

    The 4xxErrors metric counts HTTP 4xx errors. Setting the FilterId dimension to '403' filters for 403 AccessDenied errors, making this the correct choice.

    Related concept

    S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric

  • AllRequests metric with the BucketName dimension.

    Why it's wrong here

    The AllRequests metric counts all requests, including successful ones. The BucketName dimension identifies the bucket but does not isolate error codes. This does not specifically monitor 403 errors.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Candidates may incorrectly assume that the 4xxErrors metric cannot be filtered by specific status codes. However, with the FilterId dimension set to '403', you can target 403 errors specifically. This is a valid approach within S3 CloudWatch request metrics.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, S3 CloudWatch metrics are published at 1-minute granularity, and the `4xxErrors` metric aggregates all client-side errors (400–499). To isolate 403 errors, you must configure a CloudWatch metric filter on the S3 access logs or use S3 server access logs with a filter pattern like `"HTTP 403"` and then create a custom metric. The `FilterId` dimension in option C refers to a predefined filter that matches the 403 status code in the `4xxErrors` metric, which is a common pattern in exam scenarios.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric
  • FilterId dimension

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

S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric

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 ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

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Review s3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric, 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 Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: 4xxErrors metric with the FilterId dimension set to '403' — Option C is correct. The 4xxErrors metric tracks HTTP 4xx errors for an S3 bucket. By setting the FilterId dimension to '403', you can filter specifically for 403 AccessDenied errors, allowing monitoring of PUT requests that result in AccessDenied.

What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?

Review s3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric, then practise related DEA-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.

What is the key concept behind this question?

S3 CloudWatch 4xxErrors metric

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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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.