- A
Grant access to all DynamoDB tables using a wildcard in the resource ARN.
Why wrong: Too permissive.
- B
Use a single IAM role shared by all Lambda functions.
Why wrong: Violates least privilege.
- C
Attach the IAM policy to the AWS account instead of the role.
Why wrong: Not a best practice for fine-grained control.
- D
Scope the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN.
Limits access to required resources.
- E
Create a separate IAM role for each Lambda function.
Enforces least privilege per function.
Question 1,040 of 1,616
IAM Least Privilege for Lambda and DynamoDB Microservices
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 company is designing a microservices architecture using AWS Lambda. Each microservice has its own DynamoDB table. The Lambda functions need to perform CRUD operations on their respective tables. Which TWO IAM best practices should be applied? (Choose TWO.)
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 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
✓
Scope the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN.
Option D is correct because scoping the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring each Lambda function can only access its own table. Option E is correct because creating a separate IAM role for each Lambda function isolates permissions, preventing a compromised function from affecting others. Together, these practices enforce granular access control in a microservices architecture.
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.
- ✗
Grant access to all DynamoDB tables using a wildcard in the resource ARN.
Why it's wrong here
Too permissive.
- ✗
Use a single IAM role shared by all Lambda functions.
Why it's wrong here
Violates least privilege.
- ✗
Attach the IAM policy to the AWS account instead of the role.
Why it's wrong here
Not a best practice for fine-grained control.
- ✓
Scope the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN.
Why this is correct
Limits access to required resources.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create a separate IAM role for each Lambda function.
Why this is correct
Enforces least privilege per function.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a single shared role simplifies management (Option B) or that wildcards are acceptable for convenience (Option A), overlooking the critical security requirement for least privilege in microservices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, IAM policies are evaluated based on the resource ARN specified in the `Resource` element; using a specific table ARN like `arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:123456789012:table/Orders` restricts actions to that table only. In a real-world scenario, if a Lambda function is compromised, a scoped policy prevents the attacker from reading or writing to other tables, such as a `Users` table containing sensitive data. This aligns with the AWS shared responsibility model, where customers manage identity and access controls.
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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Scope the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN. — Option D is correct because scoping the IAM policy resource to the specific DynamoDB table ARN follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring each Lambda function can only access its own table. Option E is correct because creating a separate IAM role for each Lambda function isolates permissions, preventing a compromised function from affecting others. Together, these practices enforce granular access control in a microservices architecture.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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