IAM Policy for RDS Snapshot Permissions: Deny and Allow Patterns
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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.
Exhibit
Given the following IAM policy:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"rds:CreateDBSnapshot",
"rds:DescribeDBSnapshots"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": "rds:DeleteDBSnapshot",
"Resource": "arn:aws:rds:us-east-1:123456789012:snapshot:prod-*"
}
]
}
Refer to the exhibit. A database engineer is assigned this IAM policy. Which of the following actions can the engineer perform? (Choose two.)
Exhibit
Given the following IAM policy:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"rds:CreateDBSnapshot",
"rds:DescribeDBSnapshots"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": "rds:DeleteDBSnapshot",
"Resource": "arn:aws:rds:us-east-1:123456789012:snapshot:prod-*"
}
]
}
A
Describe all automated snapshots
The Allow statement permits DescribeDBSnapshots for all resources.
B
Delete a manual snapshot named dev-snapshot
Why wrong: There is no Allow statement for DeleteDBSnapshot, so deletion is implicitly denied.
C
Delete a manual snapshot named prod-database-snapshot
Why wrong: The Deny statement explicitly denies deletion of snapshots matching 'prod-*'.
D
Delete a manual snapshot named prod-backup
Why wrong: The Deny statement blocks deletion of snapshots with names starting with 'prod-', and there is no Allow for Delete.
E
Create a manual snapshot named test-snapshot
The Allow statement permits CreateDBSnapshot for all resources.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Describe all automated snapshots
The IAM policy includes an Allow statement for 'rds:DescribeDBSnapshots' on all resources, so the engineer can describe any snapshot, including automated snapshots (Option A). It also includes an Allow statement for 'rds:CreateDBSnapshot' on all resources, allowing creation of a manual snapshot with any name, such as 'test-snapshot' (Option E). There is no Allow statement for 'rds:DeleteDBSnapshot', and a Deny statement explicitly blocks deletion of snapshots with names starting with 'prod-'. Therefore, deleting any manual snapshot (Options B, C, D) is not permitted. The correct answers are A and E.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Describe all automated snapshots
Why this is correct
The Allow statement permits DescribeDBSnapshots for all resources.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Delete a manual snapshot named dev-snapshot
Why it's wrong here
There is no Allow statement for DeleteDBSnapshot, so deletion is implicitly denied.
✗
Delete a manual snapshot named prod-database-snapshot
Why it's wrong here
The Deny statement explicitly denies deletion of snapshots matching 'prod-*'.
✗
Delete a manual snapshot named prod-backup
Why it's wrong here
The Deny statement blocks deletion of snapshots with names starting with 'prod-', and there is no Allow for Delete.
✓
Create a manual snapshot named test-snapshot
Why this is correct
The Allow statement permits CreateDBSnapshot for all resources.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Describe all automated snapshots — The IAM policy includes an Allow statement for 'rds:DescribeDBSnapshots' on all resources, so the engineer can describe any snapshot, including automated snapshots (Option A). It also includes an Allow statement for 'rds:CreateDBSnapshot' on all resources, allowing creation of a manual snapshot with any name, such as 'test-snapshot' (Option E). There is no Allow statement for 'rds:DeleteDBSnapshot', and a Deny statement explicitly blocks deletion of snapshots with names starting with 'prod-'. Therefore, deleting any manual snapshot (Options B, C, D) is not permitted. The correct answers are A and E.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
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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. The exhibit shows an IAM policy attached to a user. The user needs to create a manual snapshot of an RDS DB instance named 'production-db'. Which action will the user be able to perform?
hard
A.Create a manual snapshot of 'production-db' with the name 'production-db-snapshot'.
✓ B.Create a manual snapshot of 'production-db' with the name 'mydb-production-snapshot'.
C.Describe the 'production-db' DB instance.
D.Delete the 'production-db' DB instance.
Why B: Option B is correct because the IAM policy allows CreateDBSnapshot only on DB instances with names starting with 'mydb-', and the snapshot name must also match the pattern 'mydb-*'. The snapshot name 'mydb-production-snapshot' satisfies that pattern. Option A is wrong because 'production-db-snapshot' does not start with 'mydb-'. Option C is wrong because the question asks about creating a snapshot, not describing instances. Option D is wrong because the policy does not grant DeleteDBInstance permission.
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