This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An application uses Amazon Cognito user pools for authentication. A developer wants to restrict access to an API Gateway endpoint to only authenticated users from a specific user pool. What is the best approach?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Cognito User Pool authorizer in API Gateway.
Option B is correct because a Cognito User Pool authorizer in API Gateway is the native, fully managed way to restrict access to an API endpoint to authenticated users from a specific user pool. It automatically validates the JWT token issued by the user pool and caches the result, requiring no custom code. This approach integrates directly with API Gateway's authorization flow, ensuring only tokens from the specified user pool are accepted.
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.
✗
Attach an IAM policy to the API Gateway resource that allows only the Cognito user pool ARN.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies do not reference user pools directly for authentication.
✓
Use a Cognito User Pool authorizer in API Gateway.
Why this is correct
API Gateway directly supports Cognito user pool authorizers for JWT validation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an API Gateway resource policy that allows access only from the Cognito user pool.
Why it's wrong here
Resource policies do not authenticate individual users.
✗
Use a Lambda authorizer that validates the JWT token against the user pool.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this adds complexity; API Gateway has a built-in Cognito authorizer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overcomplicate the solution by choosing a Lambda authorizer (option D) because they think they need custom validation logic, forgetting that API Gateway has a built-in Cognito User Pool authorizer that handles JWT validation natively without any custom code.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Cognito User Pool authorizer works by configuring API Gateway to validate the JWT's signature, issuer (iss), and audience (aud) claims against the specified user pool's public keys (JWKS endpoint). It caches the authorization result for up to 3600 seconds by default, reducing latency and cost. This is distinct from a Lambda authorizer, which would require you to implement JWT validation logic and manage caching yourself.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Use a Cognito User Pool authorizer in API Gateway. — Option B is correct because a Cognito User Pool authorizer in API Gateway is the native, fully managed way to restrict access to an API endpoint to authenticated users from a specific user pool. It automatically validates the JWT token issued by the user pool and caches the result, requiring no custom code. This approach integrates directly with API Gateway's authorization flow, ensuring only tokens from the specified user pool are accepted.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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