- A
Attach a bucket policy to the S3 bucket that allows access only from the ALB's security group.
Why wrong: The bucket policy would restrict access based on the source IP or VPC endpoint, but the ALB's security group is not a valid principal for S3 bucket policies. Also, the instances could still access other AWS services.
- B
Create an IAM role with a policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject access to the specific bucket, and attach the role to the EC2 instances as an instance profile.
This grants the EC2 instances only the permissions needed for that bucket, and they cannot access other AWS services unless additional policies are attached.
- C
Configure a VPC endpoint for S3 and modify the route table to route S3 traffic through the endpoint.
Why wrong: A VPC endpoint provides private connectivity but does not restrict which S3 buckets the instances can access; it only ensures traffic stays within the AWS network.
- D
Create a security group that allows outbound HTTPS traffic only to the S3 bucket's IP address range.
Why wrong: Security groups cannot filter based on destination IP ranges for S3, as S3 IP ranges are shared with other services. Also, this does not prevent access to other AWS services.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to create an IAM role with a policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject access to the specific bucket, and attach the role to the EC2 instances as an instance profile. This works because an instance profile securely delivers temporary AWS credentials to the EC2 instance, and the attached IAM policy acts as a precise permission boundary—allowing only the specified S3 actions on that exact bucket while implicitly denying access to all other AWS services. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of least privilege and the separation of authentication (who can act) from authorization (what they can do). A common trap is confusing network controls like security groups or VPC endpoints with identity-based permissions; remember that S3 access is API-driven and cannot be filtered by security groups. Memory tip: "Role locks the bucket, not the network."
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 hosts a web application on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application stores sensitive user data in an S3 bucket. A Security Engineer needs to ensure that the EC2 instances can only access the specific S3 bucket and no other AWS services. Which solution meets these requirements?
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
Create an IAM role with a policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject access to the specific bucket, and attach the role to the EC2 instances as an instance profile.
Using an instance profile with an IAM role that has a policy granting s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject only to the specific bucket ensures that the EC2 instances can only access that bucket. Option A is wrong because an S3 bucket policy restricting access to the ALB cannot enforce what the instances themselves do. Option B is wrong because security groups do not filter S3 access. Option D is wrong because a VPC endpoint alone does not restrict which resources the instances can access; it only provides private connectivity.
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.
- ✗
Attach a bucket policy to the S3 bucket that allows access only from the ALB's security group.
Why it's wrong here
The bucket policy would restrict access based on the source IP or VPC endpoint, but the ALB's security group is not a valid principal for S3 bucket policies. Also, the instances could still access other AWS services.
- ✓
Create an IAM role with a policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject access to the specific bucket, and attach the role to the EC2 instances as an instance profile.
Why this is correct
This grants the EC2 instances only the permissions needed for that bucket, and they cannot access other AWS services unless additional policies are attached.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a VPC endpoint for S3 and modify the route table to route S3 traffic through the endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
A VPC endpoint provides private connectivity but does not restrict which S3 buckets the instances can access; it only ensures traffic stays within the AWS network.
- ✗
Create a security group that allows outbound HTTPS traffic only to the S3 bucket's IP address range.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups cannot filter based on destination IP ranges for S3, as S3 IP ranges are shared with other services. Also, this does not prevent access to other AWS services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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.
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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Security and Compliance practice questions
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AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM role with a policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject access to the specific bucket, and attach the role to the EC2 instances as an instance profile. — Using an instance profile with an IAM role that has a policy granting s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject only to the specific bucket ensures that the EC2 instances can only access that bucket. Option A is wrong because an S3 bucket policy restricting access to the ALB cannot enforce what the instances themselves do. Option B is wrong because security groups do not filter S3 access. Option D is wrong because a VPC endpoint alone does not restrict which resources the instances can access; it only provides private connectivity.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DOP-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 DOP-C02 exam.
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