- A
Create an IAM role with s3:GetObject permissions
The IAM role provides the permissions.
- B
Use KMS to encrypt the S3 objects
Why wrong: Encryption is not required for access.
- C
Configure an S3 bucket policy allowing the role
Why wrong: Not needed if the role is in the same account.
- D
Attach the IAM role to the EC2 instance
The role must be attached to grant permissions.
- E
Create an instance profile and assign a key pair
Why wrong: Instance profile is automatically created with role; key pair is for SSH, not permissions.
Question 599 of 1,616
Two Required Actions to Grant EC2 Read Access to S3: IAM Role and Attachment
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 for an EC2 instance to allow it to read from an S3 bucket. Which of the following are required? (Choose TWO.)
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 an IAM role with s3:GetObject permissions
Option A is correct because an IAM role is the recommended way to grant temporary, secure credentials to an EC2 instance for accessing AWS services. The s3:GetObject permission allows the instance to read objects from an S3 bucket, which is the specific action required for read access.
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 role with s3:GetObject permissions
Why this is correct
The IAM role provides the permissions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use KMS to encrypt the S3 objects
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is not required for access.
- ✗
Configure an S3 bucket policy allowing the role
Why it's wrong here
Not needed if the role is in the same account.
- ✓
Attach the IAM role to the EC2 instance
Why this is correct
The role must be attached to grant permissions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create an instance profile and assign a key pair
Why it's wrong here
Instance profile is automatically created with role; key pair is for SSH, not permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think an S3 bucket policy is always required when using an IAM role, but it is only necessary for cross-account access or when the bucket policy explicitly restricts access; for same-account access, the role's permissions alone are sufficient.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an IAM role is attached to an EC2 instance, the AWS STS service provides temporary credentials via the instance metadata service (IMDS), which the AWS SDK automatically retrieves and refreshes. This eliminates the need to hardcode access keys in the application, enhancing security. In a real-world scenario, if the S3 bucket uses a bucket policy that denies all principals except specific IAM roles, you would need both the role and a bucket policy that explicitly allows the role, but the question does not indicate such a restrictive setup.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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?
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: Create an IAM role with s3:GetObject permissions — Option A is correct because an IAM role is the recommended way to grant temporary, secure credentials to an EC2 instance for accessing AWS services. The s3:GetObject permission allows the instance to read objects from an S3 bucket, which is the specific action required for read access.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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