- A
The resource ARN does not include the bucket itself; it only includes objects
Why wrong: The resource ARN 'arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*' is correct for s3:PutObject because the action applies to objects. It does not need to include the bucket itself. Therefore, this is not the cause of the failure.
- B
The policy is missing a 'Principal' element
Although the role policy does not require a Principal, the bucket policy does. If the bucket has a policy that doesn't list the Lambda role as a Principal, access will be denied. This is the most likely cause given the correct role policy.
- C
The action 's3:PutObject' is not allowed for Lambda execution roles
Why wrong: The s3:PutObject action is allowed for Lambda execution roles; there is no restriction on actions based on the service.
- D
The action 's3:PutObject' is not sufficient; need 's3:*'
Why wrong: The s3:PutObject action is sufficient to write objects to S3. Using a wildcard like s3:* is unnecessary and not a common security best practice.
DVA-C02 IAM Role Policy Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: iAM Role Policy. 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 AWS Lambda function that is failing with an 'AccessDenied' error when trying to write to an S3 bucket. The function's execution role has the following policy. What is the most likely cause of the failure? (Policy: { 'Version': '2012-10-17', 'Statement': [ { 'Effect': 'Allow', 'Action': 's3:PutObject', 'Resource': 'arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*' } ] })
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 policy is missing a 'Principal' element
The role policy shown is correctly scoped for s3:PutObject, allowing the Lambda function to write objects to the bucket. The 'AccessDenied' error is likely due to a bucket policy that denies the request or does not grant the Lambda execution role permission. For bucket policies, a 'Principal' element is required to specify which IAM role or user is allowed. Without a Principal that includes the Lambda role, the bucket policy will implicitly deny access, causing the error.
Key principle: IAM Role Policy
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 resource ARN does not include the bucket itself; it only includes objects
Why it's wrong here
The resource ARN 'arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*' is correct for s3:PutObject because the action applies to objects. It does not need to include the bucket itself. Therefore, this is not the cause of the failure.
- ✓
The policy is missing a 'Principal' element
Why this is correct
Although the role policy does not require a Principal, the bucket policy does. If the bucket has a policy that doesn't list the Lambda role as a Principal, access will be denied. This is the most likely cause given the correct role policy.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
IAM Role Policy
- ✗
The action 's3:PutObject' is not allowed for Lambda execution roles
Why it's wrong here
The s3:PutObject action is allowed for Lambda execution roles; there is no restriction on actions based on the service.
- ✗
The action 's3:PutObject' is not sufficient; need 's3:*'
Why it's wrong here
The s3:PutObject action is sufficient to write objects to S3. Using a wildcard like s3:* is unnecessary and not a common security best practice.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often think the role policy's resource ARN must include the bucket, but for object-level actions like PutObject, the object ARN is correct. The real trap is forgetting that bucket policies can override or deny permissions even if the role policy allows.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM Role Policy
- S3 Bucket Policy
- s3:PutObject
- AccessDenied Error
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
IAM Role Policy
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.
Review iAM Role Policy, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Troubleshooting and Optimization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — IAM Role Policy.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy is missing a 'Principal' element — The role policy shown is correctly scoped for s3:PutObject, allowing the Lambda function to write objects to the bucket. The 'AccessDenied' error is likely due to a bucket policy that denies the request or does not grant the Lambda execution role permission. For bucket policies, a 'Principal' element is required to specify which IAM role or user is allowed. Without a Principal that includes the Lambda role, the bucket policy will implicitly deny access, causing the error.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review iAM Role Policy, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
IAM Role Policy
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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