- A
The policy has a condition that restricts Scan operations based on the time of day.
Why wrong: This is unlikely because the scenario does not mention any condition keys restricting Scan by time of day; the issue is resource ARN mismatch.
- B
The role does not have permission to read from the base table.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the role has permission to read and write to the base table, so it does have read access to the base table.
- C
The IAM policy does not include the GSI's ARN in the resource statement.
This is correct because GSIs have separate ARNs in DynamoDB. The policy must explicitly include the GSI ARN to allow operations like Scan on that index.
- D
The IAM policy does not allow the 'dynamodb:Scan' action on the table.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the policy does include 'dynamodb:Scan' on the table ARN, so the action is allowed on the table; the failure is due to the GSI not being covered.
DBS-C01 Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN. 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 uses Amazon DynamoDB with fine-grained access control using IAM policies. A developer reports that an application role can read and write to the 'orders' table but cannot perform a Scan operation on a Global Secondary Index (GSI). The IAM policy attached to the role includes 'dynamodb:Scan' and the resource ARN for the table. What is the likely reason for this failure?
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 IAM policy does not include the GSI's ARN in the resource statement.
Option C is correct. DynamoDB Global Secondary Indexes (GSIs) have their own Amazon Resource Names (ARNs) separate from the base table. When using IAM policies with fine-grained access control, the policy must explicitly include the ARN of the GSI in the resource statement to allow operations like Scan on that GSI. Without the GSI ARN, the Scan operation on the GSI is denied by default, even if the policy allows 'dynamodb:Scan' on the base table. Option A is incorrect because the policy does not mention time-of-day conditions. Option B is incorrect because the role can read from the base table, but the issue is with the GSI. Option D is incorrect because the action 'dynamodb:Scan' is allowed on the table but not on the GSI.
Key principle: Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN
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 policy has a condition that restricts Scan operations based on the time of day.
Why it's wrong here
This is unlikely because the scenario does not mention any condition keys restricting Scan by time of day; the issue is resource ARN mismatch.
- ✗
The role does not have permission to read from the base table.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the role has permission to read and write to the base table, so it does have read access to the base table.
- ✓
The IAM policy does not include the GSI's ARN in the resource statement.
Why this is correct
This is correct because GSIs have separate ARNs in DynamoDB. The policy must explicitly include the GSI ARN to allow operations like Scan on that index.
Related concept
Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN
- ✗
The IAM policy does not allow the 'dynamodb:Scan' action on the table.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the policy does include 'dynamodb:Scan' on the table ARN, so the action is allowed on the table; the failure is due to the GSI not being covered.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
This is unlikely because the scenario does not mention any condition keys restricting Scan by time of day; the issue is resource ARN mismatch.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN
- Fine-grained access control
- Resource statement in IAM
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN
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.
Review global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IAM policy does not include the GSI's ARN in the resource statement. — Option C is correct. DynamoDB Global Secondary Indexes (GSIs) have their own Amazon Resource Names (ARNs) separate from the base table. When using IAM policies with fine-grained access control, the policy must explicitly include the ARN of the GSI in the resource statement to allow operations like Scan on that GSI. Without the GSI ARN, the Scan operation on the GSI is denied by default, even if the policy allows 'dynamodb:Scan' on the base table. Option A is incorrect because the policy does not mention time-of-day conditions. Option B is incorrect because the role can read from the base table, but the issue is with the GSI. Option D is incorrect because the action 'dynamodb:Scan' is allowed on the table but not on the GSI.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Global Secondary Index (GSI) ARN
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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