The answer is to create an IAM role for the Lambda function with a policy granting access to the DynamoDB table. This is correct because the Lambda execution role is the IAM role that Lambda assumes at runtime to interact with other AWS services; without it, the function has no permissions to perform DynamoDB actions like GetItem or PutItem. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the separation of concerns between invocation permissions (handled by a resource-based policy on Lambda for API Gateway) and downstream permissions (handled by the execution role for DynamoDB). A common trap is confusing the API Gateway invoke permission with the DynamoDB access permission—they are two distinct policies. Remember the memory tip: "Invoke is inbound, execute is outbound"—the resource-based policy controls who can call the function, while the execution role controls what the function can do once running.
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 is creating a Lambda function that requires access to a DynamoDB table. The function will be invoked by an Amazon API Gateway REST API. What is the BEST way to secure this architecture?
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
✓
Create an IAM role for the Lambda function with a policy granting access to the DynamoDB table.
Option A is correct because the Lambda function needs an execution role—an IAM role that Lambda assumes at runtime—with a policy that grants the specific DynamoDB actions (e.g., GetItem, PutItem) on the target table. This follows the principle of least privilege and is the standard AWS pattern for granting Lambda access to AWS resources. API Gateway invokes the Lambda function via a resource-based policy on the function itself, but that does not affect DynamoDB access; the Lambda execution role handles all downstream permissions.
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 for the Lambda function with a policy granting access to the DynamoDB table.
Why this is correct
This is the secure and recommended approach.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Attach a resource-based policy to the DynamoDB table allowing Lambda access.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB does not support resource-based policies.
✗
Use API Gateway to pass a shared secret to Lambda for DynamoDB access.
Why it's wrong here
Shared secrets are not scalable or secure.
✗
Store the DynamoDB access keys in the Lambda environment variables.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables can be exposed; not secure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse resource-based policies (used for granting invocation permissions to other AWS accounts or services) with execution roles (used for granting the Lambda function permissions to access other AWS resources), leading them to incorrectly choose Option B or think Option C is a valid authentication method.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when Lambda is invoked, the AWS Lambda service calls sts:AssumeRole on the execution role to obtain temporary security credentials (access key, secret key, session token) that are injected into the function's environment. These credentials are valid for up to 6 hours and are automatically rotated by the SDK. A common real-world scenario is when a developer mistakenly attaches a policy to the Lambda function's resource-based policy (used for cross-account invocation) instead of the execution role, causing a 'not authorized to perform dynamodb:GetItem' error.
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: Create an IAM role for the Lambda function with a policy granting access to the DynamoDB table. — Option A is correct because the Lambda function needs an execution role—an IAM role that Lambda assumes at runtime—with a policy that grants the specific DynamoDB actions (e.g., GetItem, PutItem) on the target table. This follows the principle of least privilege and is the standard AWS pattern for granting Lambda access to AWS resources. API Gateway invokes the Lambda function via a resource-based policy on the function itself, but that does not affect DynamoDB access; the Lambda execution role handles all downstream permissions.
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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