- A
The policy does not include the dynamodb:PutItem action.
Why wrong: The policy includes dynamodb:* which covers all actions.
- B
The policy uses a NotAction element that inadvertently denies access.
Why wrong: There is no NotAction element in the policy.
- C
The condition key aws:SourceIp might be blocking requests from the EC2 instance's IP.
The condition restricts access to a specific IP range, which may not match the instance's IP.
- D
The policy is missing the table ARN in the Resource field.
Why wrong: The Resource is set to "*" which is valid for DynamoDB.
Question 764 of 1,616
Why IAM Policy Condition aws:SourceIp Causes Access Denied
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 developer is troubleshooting an application that uses an IAM role to access DynamoDB. The application is running on an EC2 instance and intermittently fails with an AccessDenied error. The IAM role has the following policy attached. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The condition key aws:SourceIp might be blocking requests from the EC2 instance's IP.
The IAM policy allows all DynamoDB actions (dynamodb:*) on all tables, so the AccessDenied error is not due to missing actions or resource ARN. However, the condition `aws:SourceIp` restricts requests to specific IP addresses. If the EC2 instance's IP changes (e.g., due to NAT, Elastic IP reassignment, or scaling), the condition may deny access intermittently. Option C is correct.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The policy does not include the dynamodb:PutItem action.
Why it's wrong here
The policy includes dynamodb:* which covers all actions.
- ✗
The policy uses a NotAction element that inadvertently denies access.
Why it's wrong here
There is no NotAction element in the policy.
- ✓
The condition key aws:SourceIp might be blocking requests from the EC2 instance's IP.
Why this is correct
The condition restricts access to a specific IP range, which may not match the instance's IP.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The policy is missing the table ARN in the Resource field.
Why it's wrong here
The Resource is set to "*" which is valid for DynamoDB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Security — This question tests Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The condition key aws:SourceIp might be blocking requests from the EC2 instance's IP. — The IAM policy allows all DynamoDB actions (dynamodb:*) on all tables, so the AccessDenied error is not due to missing actions or resource ARN. However, the condition `aws:SourceIp` restricts requests to specific IP addresses. If the EC2 instance's IP changes (e.g., due to NAT, Elastic IP reassignment, or scaling), the condition may deny access intermittently. Option C is correct.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DVA-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A developer attaches this IAM policy to an IAM user. The user is trying to access an object in example-bucket from an IP address 203.0.113.5. What will happen?
easy- ✓ A.Access is denied because the condition is not satisfied.
- B.Access is allowed because the condition is not mandatory.
- C.Access is denied because the resource ARN is incorrect.
- D.Access is allowed because the policy allows the action.
Why A: The policy allows access only from the 192.0.2.0/24 range. The user's IP 203.0.113.5 is outside that range, so access is implicitly denied.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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