The correct answer is that the user lacks USAGE permission on the schema. Even though SELECT has been granted on the table itself, Amazon Redshift enforces a two‑layer access model: the schema acts as a namespace, and USAGE permission is required to “see” or traverse it before any table‑level privileges apply. Without USAGE, the query engine cannot resolve the relation, producing the “permission denied for relation” error. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Redshift’s hierarchical permission system, where schema‑level grants are a common oversight. A frequent trap is assuming that table‑level SELECT alone is sufficient, or confusing this error with a missing schema or a connection timeout. To remember: think of the schema as a locked building—USAGE is the key to the front door, while SELECT is permission to read a book inside.
DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. 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 issue where an Amazon Redshift query returns an error: 'ERROR: permission denied for relation table_name'. The user has been granted SELECT on the table. 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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user does not have USAGE permission on the schema.
In Redshift, users need usage permission on the schema to access tables within it. Option B is correct. Option A is unrelated. Option C would result in a schema not found error. Option D would be a connection timeout.
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.
✗
The user's session has timed out.
Why it's wrong here
A timeout would be a different error.
✗
The user does not have CONNECT permission on the database.
Why it's wrong here
CONNECT permission is needed to connect, but the user is connected and running a query.
✗
The table is in a different schema than expected.
Why it's wrong here
If the schema were incorrect, a different error (schema not found) would appear.
✓
The user does not have USAGE permission on the schema.
Why this is correct
Without USAGE on the schema, the user cannot access tables even with SELECT.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user does not have USAGE permission on the schema. — In Redshift, users need usage permission on the schema to access tables within it. Option B is correct. Option A is unrelated. Option C would result in a schema not found error. Option D would be a connection timeout.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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