- A
Use CloudFront signed URLs with an origin access identity (OAI) to restrict access to the S3 bucket.
Why wrong: CloudFront signed URLs are used to control access to content served through CloudFront, not for direct S3 access via a pre-signed URL. This adds unnecessary complexity.
- B
Create a pre-signed URL for each object using the AWS SDK with an appropriate expiration time.
Pre-signed URLs grant temporary access to a specific S3 object. The URL is generated using the developer's AWS credentials and expires after the specified duration, providing secure time-limited access.
- C
Set a bucket policy that allows public read access for the specific users based on their IP addresses.
Why wrong: This would expose the bucket to broader access than intended and does not provide per-user time-limited access. IP-based policies can be used but are less secure and not as granular.
- D
Provide the users with IAM user credentials that have read access to the bucket.
Why wrong: Sharing IAM credentials violates security best practices. Credentials should not be shared with end users; instead, use temporary mechanisms like pre-signed URLs.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 has an Amazon S3 bucket containing private user documents. The application must generate a time-limited URL for users to download their own documents without requiring the users to have AWS credentials. Which solution should the developer use?
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
Create a pre-signed URL for each object using the AWS SDK with an appropriate expiration time.
Pre-signed URLs allow temporary, time-limited access to private S3 objects without requiring the user to have AWS credentials. The developer generates the URL server-side using the AWS SDK, embedding an expiration time, and the user can download the object directly via HTTP GET. This meets the requirement of granting ephemeral access to specific documents for unauthenticated users.
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.
- ✗
Use CloudFront signed URLs with an origin access identity (OAI) to restrict access to the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront signed URLs are used to control access to content served through CloudFront, not for direct S3 access via a pre-signed URL. This adds unnecessary complexity.
- ✓
Create a pre-signed URL for each object using the AWS SDK with an appropriate expiration time.
Why this is correct
Pre-signed URLs grant temporary access to a specific S3 object. The URL is generated using the developer's AWS credentials and expires after the specified duration, providing secure time-limited access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set a bucket policy that allows public read access for the specific users based on their IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
This would expose the bucket to broader access than intended and does not provide per-user time-limited access. IP-based policies can be used but are less secure and not as granular.
- ✗
Provide the users with IAM user credentials that have read access to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing IAM credentials violates security best practices. Credentials should not be shared with end users; instead, use temporary mechanisms like pre-signed URLs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse pre-signed URLs with CloudFront signed URLs, thinking the CDN is required for time-limited access, but pre-signed URLs work directly with S3 and are simpler for single-object, time-limited downloads without needing CloudFront.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pre-signed URLs are generated by signing a URL with the secret access key of an IAM user or role that has permission to read the object. The signature includes the expiration timestamp, so the URL is only valid until that time. Under the hood, the URL is a standard HTTP GET request with query parameters (AWSAccessKeyId, Signature, Expires) that S3 validates against the stored signature. A common real-world scenario is generating pre-signed URLs in a serverless function (e.g., AWS Lambda) after authenticating the user via a web app, ensuring only authorized users receive a temporary link to their specific document.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a pre-signed URL for each object using the AWS SDK with an appropriate expiration time. — Pre-signed URLs allow temporary, time-limited access to private S3 objects without requiring the user to have AWS credentials. The developer generates the URL server-side using the AWS SDK, embedding an expiration time, and the user can download the object directly via HTTP GET. This meets the requirement of granting ephemeral access to specific documents for unauthenticated users.
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 11, 2026
This DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 exam.
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