The answer is that the request is not using HTTPS. This is the most likely cause because the bucket policy explicitly denies any request that lacks encryption in transit, which for S3 means the connection must be secured via HTTPS rather than HTTP. When a developer sends a plain HTTP request, the policy evaluates the condition and returns an AccessDenied error, even if the credentials are valid and the object permissions are correct. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how bucket policy conditions like `aws:SecureTransport` work to enforce encryption in transit, a common security requirement. A frequent trap is confusing encryption in transit with server-side encryption at rest—remember, the former is about the channel (HTTPS), the latter about the stored object (SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, etc.). Memory tip: think “T for Transit, T for TLS” — if the request isn’t using TLS (HTTPS), the policy will block it.
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 receives an AccessDenied error when trying to upload a file to an S3 bucket that has a bucket policy requiring encryption in transit. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The request is not using HTTPS
The bucket policy likely denies requests that are not using HTTPS. Option A (no encryption) would be denied if the policy requires encryption in transit. Option B (wrong permissions) would give a different error. Option C (no server-side encryption) is about at-rest encryption, not in transit. Option D (expired signature) would give a different error.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 object is not encrypted with server-side encryption
Why it's wrong here
Server-side encryption is at-rest, not in transit.
✗
The IAM user does not have s3:PutObject permission
Why it's wrong here
Would result in AccessDenied, but the policy specifically mentions encryption in transit.
✗
The request signature is expired
Why it's wrong here
Would give an AccessDenied with a different message.
✓
The request is not using HTTPS
Why this is correct
The policy requires encryption in transit, which is HTTPS.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Security — This question tests Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The request is not using HTTPS — The bucket policy likely denies requests that are not using HTTPS. Option A (no encryption) would be denied if the policy requires encryption in transit. Option B (wrong permissions) would give a different error. Option C (no server-side encryption) is about at-rest encryption, not in transit. Option D (expired signature) would give a different error.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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