This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 AWS KMS to encrypt data in S3. They want to ensure that only specific IAM roles can decrypt the data, even if the IAM role has full S3 access. What should they do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Modify the KMS key policy to grant decrypt permission only to the specific IAM role.
Option D is correct because a KMS key policy can grant decrypt permission to specific IAM roles. Option A is wrong because bucket policies only control S3 access, not KMS decrypt. Option B is wrong because IAM policies alone cannot restrict decrypt if the role has access. Option C is wrong because S3 Block Public Access does not affect KMS.
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.
✗
Use an IAM policy to deny KMS Decrypt for all users except the role.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policy cannot restrict the role itself.
✗
Add a bucket policy that denies Decrypt for all principals except the role.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policy cannot control KMS actions.
✗
Enable S3 Block Public Access on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Does not affect KMS.
✓
Modify the KMS key policy to grant decrypt permission only to the specific IAM role.
Why this is correct
Key policy controls who can use the key.
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 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.
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 DVA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Security — This question tests Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the KMS key policy to grant decrypt permission only to the specific IAM role. — Option D is correct because a KMS key policy can grant decrypt permission to specific IAM roles. Option A is wrong because bucket policies only control S3 access, not KMS decrypt. Option B is wrong because IAM policies alone cannot restrict decrypt if the role has access. Option C is wrong because S3 Block Public Access does not affect KMS.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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