Question 939 of 1,616
SecurityhardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Override an Explicit Deny in S3 Bucket Policy

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 company has an S3 bucket with a policy that denies access to all users. The bucket owner wants to grant read access to a specific IAM user. What must be done?

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

Remove the Deny statement from the bucket policy.

Option C is correct because an explicit deny in a bucket policy overrides any allow statement. Therefore, the only way to grant access is to remove or modify the deny statement. Option A is unnecessary as the existing bucket can be used if the policy is changed. Option B is incorrect because adding an Allow statement in the bucket policy does not override the existing explicit deny; the deny still takes precedence. Option D is incorrect because bucket ACLs are also overridden by explicit deny in the bucket policy.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Create a new bucket and copy objects there.

    Why it's wrong here

    Overly complex and not necessary.

  • Add an Allow statement in the bucket policy for the user.

    Why it's wrong here

    Explicit deny overrides allow.

  • Remove the Deny statement from the bucket policy.

    Why this is correct

    Removing the explicit deny allows other permissions to take effect.

    Related concept

    Standard ACLs match source addresses.

  • Add the user to the bucket ACL with read permission.

    Why it's wrong here

    Explicit deny overrides ACLs.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Standard ACLs match source addresses.
  • Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
  • The first matching ACL entry is used.
  • There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

  • Check inbound versus outbound direction.
  • Read the ACL from top to bottom.
  • Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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 ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DVA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DVA-C02 question test?

Security — This question tests Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Remove the Deny statement from the bucket policy. — Option C is correct because an explicit deny in a bucket policy overrides any allow statement. Therefore, the only way to grant access is to remove or modify the deny statement. Option A is unnecessary as the existing bucket can be used if the policy is changed. Option B is incorrect because adding an Allow statement in the bucket policy does not override the existing explicit deny; the deny still takes precedence. Option D is incorrect because bucket ACLs are also overridden by explicit deny in the bucket policy.

What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DVA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026

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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.