IAM Permissions Needed to Create a DMS Replication Task
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```json
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"dms:CreateReplicationTask",
"dms:StartReplicationTask"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"rds:DescribeDBInstances"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
```
An IAM policy is attached to a user to allow migration tasks. When the user tries to create a DMS replication task, they get an authorization error.A user has the IAM policy shown in the exhibit. When attempting to create a DMS replication task, they receive an authorization error. What is the most likely missing permission?
Quick Answer
The answer is the missing `dms:CreateEndpoint` permission. This is correct because when you create a DMS replication task, the service must first create the source and target endpoints that define the database connections; without explicit permission to create these endpoint resources, the task creation fails with an authorization error, even if other permissions like `dms:CreateReplicationTask` are present. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the dependency chain in DMS resource creation—a common trap is assuming that only the task-level action is needed, when in fact the endpoint creation is a prerequisite. Remember the memory tip: "No endpoint, no task—DMS needs both to ask."
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often focus on permissions for the target service (like S3 or CloudWatch) or network-related actions, overlooking that the immediate authorization failure is due to missing the core DMS action required to create the endpoint itself.
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
✓
dms:CreateEndpoint permission
The user is attempting to create a DMS replication task, which requires the ability to create the underlying DMS resources. The error indicates a missing permission for the `dms:CreateEndpoint` action, as DMS replication tasks depend on source and target endpoints that must be created first. Without this permission, the API call to create the endpoint fails, resulting in an authorization error.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ec2:DescribeSecurityGroups to allow network configuration
Why it's wrong here
EC2 permissions are not required for the user; DMS uses a replication instance.
- ✓
dms:CreateEndpoint permission
Why this is correct
The policy lacks permission to create endpoints, which are required for the replication task.
- ✗
s3:PutObject for the S3 bucket
Why it's wrong here
S3 permissions are not required for creating a replication task unless using S3 as a source or target.
- ✗
logs:CreateLogGroup to enable logging
Why it's wrong here
Logging is not required for task creation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,663 original DBS-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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. An IAM policy is attached to a user who will manage AWS DMS tasks. When the user tries to start a replication task, they receive an access denied error. What is the most likely cause?
medium- A.The policy does not allow rds:DescribeDBInstances
- B.The policy does not allow the dms:StartReplicationTask action
- ✓ C.The policy is missing permissions to describe endpoints and connections
- D.The policy does not allow dms:CreateReplicationTask
Why C: The DMS API requires that a user have permissions to describe endpoints and connections before starting a replication task. Even if the policy grants dms:StartReplicationTask, the service internally calls dms:DescribeEndpoints and dms:DescribeConnections to validate the source and target endpoints. Without those describe permissions, the API call fails with an access denied error, even though the start action itself is allowed.
JA
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.