DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A data engineer runs a CLI command to decrypt a file and receives an access denied error. The IAM user 'DataEngineer' has the following policy attached:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": "kms:Decrypt",
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}What is the most likely cause of the error?
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 key policy does not grant the IAM user permission to decrypt.
Even though the IAM policy grants kms:Decrypt on all resources, the key policy is a separate access control mechanism. The error indicates that the key policy does not include the IAM user as a principal allowed to decrypt. Therefore, option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because missing the --encryption-context parameter would cause a different error, not an access denied. Option C is incorrect because AWS managed keys can be used for decryption if the key policy grants permission; the key type is not the issue. Option D is incorrect because the IAM policy does allow kms:Decrypt on all keys; the problem is the key policy, not the IAM policy.
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 CLI command is missing the --encryption-context parameter.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption context is optional unless required by the key policy.
- ✓
The key policy does not grant the IAM user permission to decrypt.
Why this is correct
Key policy is separate from IAM policy; it must explicitly allow the user.
- ✗
The key is an AWS managed key and cannot be used for decryption.
Why it's wrong here
AWS managed keys can be used for decryption if the user has access.
- ✗
The IAM policy does not allow kms:Decrypt on the specific key.
Why it's wrong here
The IAM policy allows kms:Decrypt on all resources.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,711 original DEA-C01 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.