Quick Answer
The correct permissions are sqs:ReceiveMessage, sqs:DeleteMessage, and dynamodb:PutItem. This combination is required because the Lambda function must not only read messages from the SQS queue using ReceiveMessage, but also delete each message after successful processing via DeleteMessage to prevent duplicate processing, while writing the processed data to a DynamoDB table requires the PutItem action. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the full lifecycle of event-driven architectures—specifically how Lambda interacts with SQS as an event source and DynamoDB as a data store. A common trap is forgetting the DeleteMessage permission, as candidates often assume ReceiveMessage alone suffices, but without it, messages reappear after the visibility timeout, causing infinite loops. Remember the mnemonic: “Receive, Delete, Put—three steps to keep your queue clean and your table full.”
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 an IAM policy for a Lambda function that needs to read from an SQS queue and write to a DynamoDB table. Which THREE permissions are required? (Select THREE.)
sqs:DeleteMessage
Required to delete messages after processing.
dynamodb:PutItem
Required to write items to DynamoDB.
sqs:ReceiveMessage
Required to read messages from SQS.
sqs:SendMessage
Why wrong: Not needed for reading.
dynamodb:GetItem
Why wrong: Not needed for writing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
sqs:DeleteMessage
A is correct because the Lambda function must delete messages from the SQS queue after processing them to prevent them from being reprocessed. The sqs:DeleteMessage permission is required to call the DeleteMessage API, which removes the message from the queue using its receipt handle. Without this permission, the function would successfully receive and process the message but fail to delete it, causing the message to become visible again after the visibility timeout expires.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
sqs:DeleteMessage
Why this is correct
Required to delete messages after processing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
dynamodb:PutItem
Why this is correct
Required to write items to DynamoDB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
sqs:ReceiveMessage
Why this is correct
Required to read messages from SQS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
sqs:SendMessage
Why it's wrong here
Not needed for reading.
dynamodb:GetItem
Why it's wrong here
Not needed for writing.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the permissions needed for a Lambda function acting as a consumer (ReceiveMessage and DeleteMessage) with those needed for a producer (SendMessage), or they mistakenly think GetItem is required for writing to DynamoDB when PutItem is the correct write operation.
Detailed technical explanation
When a Lambda function processes messages from an SQS queue, it typically uses the ReceiveMessage API to poll for messages, processes them, and then calls DeleteMessage with the receipt handle to remove the message. The receipt handle is a unique identifier returned by ReceiveMessage that changes each time a message is received, and it must be used within the visibility timeout period. In a real-world scenario, if the Lambda function fails to delete the message (e.g., due to missing sqs:DeleteMessage permission), the message will reappear in the queue after the visibility timeout, leading to duplicate processing and potential data inconsistencies.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: sqs:DeleteMessage — A is correct because the Lambda function must delete messages from the SQS queue after processing them to prevent them from being reprocessed. The sqs:DeleteMessage permission is required to call the DeleteMessage API, which removes the message from the queue using its receipt handle. Without this permission, the function would successfully receive and process the message but fail to delete it, causing the message to become visible again after the visibility timeout expires.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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