DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A developer needs to allow an application running on an EC2 instance to read and write data to a DynamoDB table named 'Orders'. The EC2 instance is configured with an IAM role. Which IAM policy should be attached to the role?
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
✓
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "dynamodb:GetItem", "dynamodb:PutItem" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:123456789012:table/Orders" } ] }
The policy grants exactly the required DynamoDB actions (GetItem and PutItem) on the specific 'Orders' table, following the principle of least privilege. Option A is incorrect because it grants full DynamoDB access to all tables, which is overly permissive. Option B is incorrect because it grants EC2 actions, not DynamoDB actions. Option D is incorrect because it grants S3 actions instead of DynamoDB actions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "dynamodb:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Grants full access to all DynamoDB tables, too permissive.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "ec2:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
This grants EC2 actions, not DynamoDB.
- ✓
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "dynamodb:GetItem", "dynamodb:PutItem" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:123456789012:table/Orders" } ] }
Why this is correct
Correctly grants read/write to the specific table.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
This grants S3 access, not DynamoDB.
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 |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DBS-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 DBS-C01 exam.