- A
A bucket policy that allows s3:GetObject for the user.
Why wrong: This is a resource-based policy, not an identity-based policy. The question asks for an identity-based policy to add to the IAM user.
- B
An IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject for the specific object ARN.
Correct. An IAM policy attached to the user can grant access to the specific object. The bucket policy does not deny, so this will work.
- C
An S3 access point policy.
Why wrong: An access point policy is resource-based, not identity-based. It also requires creating an access point, which is unnecessary for simple object access.
- D
An IAM policy that allows s3:ListBucket for the bucket.
Why wrong: This grants the ability to list objects, not to read the specific object. Moreover, if the bucket policy only grants access to root, ListBucket may be denied.
Quick Answer
The answer is to attach an IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject for the specific object ARN. This works because AWS evaluates both identity-based IAM policies and resource-based bucket policies together, and an explicit allow in either policy can grant access unless an explicit deny exists. The bucket policy restricts access to the root account, but since it does not include an explicit deny for other users, the IAM policy’s explicit allow overrides the default implicit deny, effectively granting the user access to that object. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of policy evaluation logic, specifically that an explicit allow in an IAM policy can overcome a bucket policy that limits access to the root account. A common trap is assuming the bucket policy’s root-only restriction creates an unbreakable barrier, but without an explicit deny, an identity-based allow still permits the action. Memory tip: “Explicit allow beats implicit deny, but explicit deny beats all.”
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 needs to grant an IAM user in the same AWS account access to a specific object in an S3 bucket. The bucket policy currently grants access only to the bucket owner (the root account). Which identity-based policy statement should the developer add to the IAM user's permissions?
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
An IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject for the specific object ARN.
Option B is correct because an IAM policy attached directly to the user can grant s3:GetObject permission for a specific object ARN (e.g., arn:aws:s3:::bucket-name/object-key). This identity-based policy overrides the bucket policy's default deny for the root-only access, as long as there is no explicit deny in the bucket policy. The bucket policy restricts access to the root account, but an explicit allow in an IAM policy can still grant access to the user since IAM policies and bucket policies are evaluated together, and an explicit allow in either can permit the action unless an explicit deny exists.
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.
- ✗
A bucket policy that allows s3:GetObject for the user.
Why it's wrong here
This is a resource-based policy, not an identity-based policy. The question asks for an identity-based policy to add to the IAM user.
- ✓
An IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject for the specific object ARN.
Why this is correct
Correct. An IAM policy attached to the user can grant access to the specific object. The bucket policy does not deny, so this will work.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
An S3 access point policy.
Why it's wrong here
An access point policy is resource-based, not identity-based. It also requires creating an access point, which is unnecessary for simple object access.
- ✗
An IAM policy that allows s3:ListBucket for the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
This grants the ability to list objects, not to read the specific object. Moreover, if the bucket policy only grants access to root, ListBucket may be denied.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse resource-based policies (bucket policies) with identity-based policies (IAM policies) and assume that a bucket policy is the only way to grant S3 access, overlooking that IAM policies can grant access to specific objects even when the bucket policy restricts access to the root account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS evaluates both identity-based policies (IAM) and resource-based policies (bucket policies) using a union model: an action is allowed if there is an explicit allow in either policy, unless an explicit deny exists. The bucket policy here explicitly allows only the root account, which is an explicit allow for the root but does not create an explicit deny for other principals. Therefore, an IAM policy with an explicit allow for the user can grant access to the specific object. This is a common pattern for granting granular object-level access without modifying the bucket policy.
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
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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: An IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject for the specific object ARN. — Option B is correct because an IAM policy attached directly to the user can grant s3:GetObject permission for a specific object ARN (e.g., arn:aws:s3:::bucket-name/object-key). This identity-based policy overrides the bucket policy's default deny for the root-only access, as long as there is no explicit deny in the bucket policy. The bucket policy restricts access to the root account, but an explicit allow in an IAM policy can still grant access to the user since IAM policies and bucket policies are evaluated together, and an explicit allow in either can permit the action unless an explicit deny exists.
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
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