- A
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "dynamodb:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why wrong: Grants full access to all DynamoDB tables, too permissive.
- B
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "ec2:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why wrong: This grants EC2 actions, not DynamoDB.
- C
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "dynamodb:GetItem", "dynamodb:PutItem" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:123456789012:table/Orders" } ] }
Correctly grants read/write to the specific table.
- D
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*" } ] }
Why wrong: This grants S3 access, not DynamoDB.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the IAM policy that grants `dynamodb:GetItem` and `dynamodb:PutItem` on the specific `Orders` table ARN. This is correct because the principle of least privilege requires that an EC2 instance role should only allow the exact actions needed—in this case, read and write access—and must scope the resource to the single table rather than using a wildcard. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between fine-grained access control and overly permissive policies; a common trap is confusing DynamoDB actions with EC2 or S3 actions, or accidentally granting full table access via `dynamodb:*`. Remember that for a specific table, you must include the full ARN with the table name, and the actions must match the API calls the application makes—`GetItem` for reads and `PutItem` for writes. A useful memory tip: "Get and Put on one table, not all—least privilege is your call."
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 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" } ] }
Option B is correct because the policy grants dynamodb:GetItem and dynamodb:PutItem on the specified table. Option A is wrong because 'Allow' is misspelled as 'Allow' (typo) but also DynamoDB actions are not 'Ec2:*'. Option C is wrong because it grants full DynamoDB access to all tables. Option D is wrong because it uses s3:* instead of DynamoDB.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
{ "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.
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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Database Security — study guide chapter
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Database Security practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: { "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "dynamodb:GetItem", "dynamodb:PutItem" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:123456789012:table/Orders" } ] } — Option B is correct because the policy grants dynamodb:GetItem and dynamodb:PutItem on the specified table. Option A is wrong because 'Allow' is misspelled as 'Allow' (typo) but also DynamoDB actions are not 'Ec2:*'. Option C is wrong because it grants full DynamoDB access to all tables. Option D is wrong because it uses s3:* instead of DynamoDB.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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