Courseiva
← DVA-C02
Full test
Question 672 of 1,616
Development with AWS Services →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Why Lambda Can't Access DynamoDB: Missing IAM Permissions

This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

```
Resources:
  MyLambdaFunction:
    Type: AWS::Lambda::Function
    Properties:
      Code:
        S3Bucket: my-bucket
        S3Key: my-function.zip
      Handler: index.handler
      Role: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/lambda-role
      Runtime: nodejs18.x
      Environment:
        Variables:
          TABLE_NAME: MyTable
```

A developer deploys this CloudFormation template. The Lambda function fails to access the DynamoDB table 'MyTable'. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

```
Resources:
  MyLambdaFunction:
    Type: AWS::Lambda::Function
    Properties:
      Code:
        S3Bucket: my-bucket
        S3Key: my-function.zip
      Handler: index.handler
      Role: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/lambda-role
      Runtime: nodejs18.x
      Environment:
        Variables:
          TABLE_NAME: MyTable
```

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 Lambda execution role lacks DynamoDB permissions.

The correct answer is A because the Lambda function requires an IAM execution role with permissions to perform DynamoDB actions (e.g., dynamodb:GetItem, dynamodb:PutItem) on the 'MyTable' table. Without these permissions, the SDK call to DynamoDB will fail with an AccessDeniedException, even if the template deploys the table and function correctly.

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.

  • ✓

    The Lambda execution role lacks DynamoDB permissions.

    Why this is correct

    The role ARN is provided but its policy must include DynamoDB actions.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The runtime nodejs18.x is incorrect for this handler.

    Why it's wrong here

    Node.js 18 is valid.

  • ✗

    The S3 bucket 'my-bucket' does not exist.

    Why it's wrong here

    If bucket were missing, stack creation would fail.

  • ✗

    The environment variable TABLE_NAME is misspelled.

    Why it's wrong here

    The variable is correctly named.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may confuse a missing IAM permission with a configuration error (like a wrong runtime or environment variable), but the question explicitly states the function fails to access the table, which points directly to an authorization failure rather than a resource-not-found or deployment issue.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, the Lambda execution role must include an IAM policy with Effect: Allow and Action: dynamodb:* (or specific actions) on the ARN of the DynamoDB table. The AWS SDK in the Lambda function makes an HTTP request to the DynamoDB API, and the service evaluates the caller's IAM permissions before executing the operation. A common real-world scenario is when developers forget to attach the managed policy AWSLambdaDynamoDBExecutionRole or define a custom policy, leading to silent failures in production.

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

Cloud Service Model Comparison

ModelYou ManageProvider ManagesExamples
IaaSOS, runtime, apps, dataHardware, hypervisor, networkingEC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine
PaaSApps and dataOS, runtime, middleware, hardwareElastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service
SaaSData and settings onlyEverything elseMicrosoft 365, Salesforce, Workday
FaaS / ServerlessFunction code onlyInfra, scaling, runtimeLambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run
CaaSContainers and appsKubernetes, OS, hardwareEKS, AKS, GKE

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.

Related practice questions

Related DVA-C02 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Development with AWS Services practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Development with AWS Services.

Security practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Security.

Deployment practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Deployment.

Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Optimization.

DVA-C02 fundamentals practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 fundamentals.

DVA-C02 scenario practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 scenario.

DVA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free DVA-C02 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions20 questions30 questions50 questionsTimed 30
DVA-C02 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DVA-C02 question test?

Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The Lambda execution role lacks DynamoDB permissions. — The correct answer is A because the Lambda function requires an IAM execution role with permissions to perform DynamoDB actions (e.g., dynamodb:GetItem, dynamodb:PutItem) on the 'MyTable' table. Without these permissions, the SDK call to DynamoDB will fail with an AccessDeniedException, even if the template deploys the table and function correctly.

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: "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?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

More DVA-C02 practice questions

Browse all DVA-C02 questions →

Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

Sign in to join the discussion.

This DVA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DVA-C02 exam.