Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). IAM is the correct service for DynamoDB access control because it allows you to define fine-grained policies that specify exactly which users, roles, or applications can perform actions like GetItem, PutItem, or Query on a specific table, using condition keys for attributes or time-based restrictions. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of authorization versus encryption and network controls—a common trap is confusing IAM with security groups (which control network traffic) or KMS (which handles encryption at rest). Remember that IAM policies are identity-based, while resource-based policies like DynamoDB resource policies can also be used for cross-account access. A helpful memory tip: IAM is for "who can do what" on the table, while KMS and CloudHSM are for "how data is protected" at rest.
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. 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. 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 company is using Amazon DynamoDB and wants to ensure that only authorized users can access a specific table. Which AWS service should be used to manage access control?
AWS CloudHSM.
Why wrong: CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not access control.
AWS Key Management Service (KMS).
Why wrong: KMS manages encryption keys, not access permissions.
Amazon VPC security groups.
Why wrong: Security groups control network access, not user permissions.
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
IAM policies define who can access DynamoDB tables.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Option B is correct because IAM is used to manage access to DynamoDB tables through policies. Option A is wrong because security groups control network traffic, not database access. Option C is wrong because CloudHSM is for encryption keys, not access control. Option D is wrong because KMS is for encryption, not access control.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS CloudHSM.
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not access control.
AWS Key Management Service (KMS).
Why it's wrong here
KMS manages encryption keys, not access permissions.
Amazon VPC security groups.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups control network access, not user permissions.
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Why this is correct
IAM policies define who can access DynamoDB tables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which DBS-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.
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FAQ
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). — Option B is correct because IAM is used to manage access to DynamoDB tables through policies. Option A is wrong because security groups control network traffic, not database access. Option C is wrong because CloudHSM is for encryption keys, not access control. Option D is wrong because KMS is for encryption, not access control.
Identify which DBS-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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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