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Management and Operations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question

Exhibit

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "rds:DescribeDBInstances",
        "rds:ModifyDBInstance"
      ],
      "Resource": "*"
    }
  ]
}

Refer to the exhibit. An IAM policy is attached to a user who needs to manage Amazon RDS DB instances. When the user attempts to modify a DB instance, they receive an 'AccessDenied' error. What is the most likely cause?

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 policy is missing the 'rds:ListTagsForResource' permission needed for the console.

The IAM policy attached to the user includes the 'rds:ModifyDBInstance' action, so the user should be able to modify DB instances via the API or CLI. However, the AWS Management Console frequently requires additional read-only permissions to render the interface, such as 'rds:ListTagsForResource' to display tags. Without this permission, the console may throw an 'AccessDenied' error when attempting a modification, even though the underlying modify action is allowed. This is the most likely cause of the 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.

  • ✗

    The policy does not include the 'rds:ModifyDBInstance' action for the specific DB instance ARN.

    Why it's wrong here

    The policy allows all actions on all resources.

  • ✓

    The policy is missing the 'rds:ListTagsForResource' permission needed for the console.

    Why this is correct

    The console requires ListTagsForResource to display instance details; without it, modify operations fail.

  • ✗

    The user is trying to modify a Multi-AZ DB instance which requires additional permissions.

    Why it's wrong here

    Multi-AZ does not require extra permissions.

  • ✗

    The policy requires a condition to allow modifications during the maintenance window.

    Why it's wrong here

    No such condition is required.

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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. An IAM policy is attached to a user who needs to restore an Amazon RDS DB instance from a DB snapshot. The user attempts to restore and receives an 'Access Denied' error. Which missing permission is MOST likely causing the failure?

easy
  • A.rds:DescribeDBSnapshots
  • B.rds:DescribeDBInstances
  • ✓ C.rds:CreateDBInstance
  • D.rds:CreateDBSubnetGroup

Why C: To restore an Amazon RDS DB instance from a DB snapshot, the user must have the `rds:CreateDBInstance` permission. This is because the restore operation internally calls the CreateDBInstance API to create a new DB instance from the specified snapshot. Without this permission, the request fails with an 'Access Denied' error, even if the user has permissions to describe snapshots or instances.

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.