The correct answer is to create an IAM policy granting DynamoDB actions on the specific table, attach that policy to the IAM group, and then add the users to the group. This works because IAM groups are a logical container for users, and policies attached to a group apply to all its members, effectively restricting DynamoDB table access to the IAM group without modifying the table itself. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this tests your understanding of IAM policy attachment points versus resource-based policies; a common trap is thinking you can attach a policy directly to a DynamoDB table, but IAM policies must be attached to identities (users, groups, or roles). Remember the mnemonic "PAG" — Policy, Attach to Group, then add users — to avoid confusing group-based access control with table-level resource policies.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
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 restrict access to a specific table so that only users in a particular IAM group can perform read and write operations. Which THREE steps should be taken to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an IAM policy that allows dynamodb:GetItem, dynamodb:PutItem, etc. on the specific table ARN.
Options A, B, and D are correct. You create an IAM policy that grants DynamoDB actions on the specific table (A). You attach that policy to the IAM group (B). You then add users to that group (D). Option C is wrong because the policy should be attached to the group, not the table. Option E is wrong because resource-based policies on the table are not the primary method; IAM policies are used.
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.
✓
Create an IAM policy that allows dynamodb:GetItem, dynamodb:PutItem, etc. on the specific table ARN.
Why this is correct
This defines the allowed actions on the table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Attach the IAM policy to an IAM group.
Why this is correct
Attaching to the group applies the policy to all group members.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Attach a resource-based policy to the DynamoDB table allowing access from the group.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB does not support resource-based policies; IAM policies are used.
✓
Add the users to the IAM group.
Why this is correct
Users inherit the permissions of the group.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an IAM role and assign it to the table.
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles are assumed by users or services, not attached to tables.
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 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.
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.
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: Create an IAM policy that allows dynamodb:GetItem, dynamodb:PutItem, etc. on the specific table ARN. — Options A, B, and D are correct. You create an IAM policy that grants DynamoDB actions on the specific table (A). You attach that policy to the IAM group (B). You then add users to that group (D). Option C is wrong because the policy should be attached to the group, not the table. Option E is wrong because resource-based policies on the table are not the primary method; IAM policies are used.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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. A company wants to restrict access to an Amazon DynamoDB table so that only specific IAM users can read and write data. What is the BEST way to achieve this?
easy
A.Use a resource-based policy on the DynamoDB table.
✓ B.Create an IAM policy that grants access to the DynamoDB table and attach it to the specific IAM users.
C.Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) with IAM authentication.
D.Create a VPC endpoint for DynamoDB and allow only traffic from that VPC.
Why B: Using an IAM policy with conditions to allow only specific users is the most precise method. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because VPC endpoints do not restrict which users can access the table. Option C is wrong because resource-based policies are not supported for DynamoDB. Option D is wrong because DynamoDB Accelerator does not provide access control.
Variation 2. A developer wants to grant an IAM user read-only access to an Amazon DynamoDB table named 'Orders' in the 'us-east-1' region. Which IAM policy should be attached to the user?
Why A: Option B is correct because it allows only Scan, Query, and GetItem on the specified table. Option A is wrong because it uses a 'Deny' effect for write operations but allows all DynamoDB actions by default. Option C is wrong because it grants full access to the table. Option D is wrong because it includes PutItem and UpdateItem.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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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