- A
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Why wrong: This allows all S3 actions (including write), which is too permissive for read-only.
- B
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why wrong: This allows GetObject on all buckets, not just my-app-data.
- C
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Why wrong: This allows both read and write, not just read.
- D
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
This allows only GetObject on the specific bucket.
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of 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 developer is creating an IAM policy to allow an EC2 instance to read objects from a specific S3 bucket named 'my-app-data'. The policy should be attached to an IAM role that will be assumed by the EC2 instance. Which policy statement meets this requirement?
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": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Option D is correct because it grants only the s3:GetObject permission on the specific S3 bucket 'my-app-data' and its objects, which is the minimum required to allow an EC2 instance to read objects from that bucket. The policy is designed to be attached to an IAM role that the EC2 instance assumes, following the principle of least privilege.
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": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
This allows all S3 actions (including write), which is too permissive for read-only.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
This allows GetObject on all buckets, not just my-app-data.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject" ], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
This allows both read and write, not just read.
- ✓
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] }
Why this is correct
This allows only GetObject on the specific bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose overly permissive policies (like s3:* or including s3:PutObject) or forget to scope the resource to the specific bucket, leading to security misconfigurations that fail the principle of least privilege.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an EC2 instance assumes an IAM role, it receives temporary security credentials via the instance metadata service (IMDS). The IAM policy attached to the role must specify the exact resource ARN, including the bucket name and the '/*' suffix to target objects, as bucket-level operations (like s3:ListBucket) require the bucket ARN without the '/*'. For read-only object access, only s3:GetObject is needed, and the resource ARN must be 'arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*' to match the objects within the bucket.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Security — This question tests 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": "s3:GetObject", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-app-data/*" } ] } — Option D is correct because it grants only the s3:GetObject permission on the specific S3 bucket 'my-app-data' and its objects, which is the minimum required to allow an EC2 instance to read objects from that bucket. The policy is designed to be attached to an IAM role that the EC2 instance assumes, following the principle of least privilege.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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