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 uses AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team wants to centrally enforce that S3 buckets in all accounts block public access. Which policy should be attached to the root organizational unit to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attach a service control policy (SCP) to the root organizational unit.
Service control policies (SCPs) can be applied to organizational units to restrict permissions across member accounts. Option B is correct because SCPs allow denial of actions that would make S3 buckets public. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are account-specific and cannot be applied centrally to all accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS Config rules can detect but not enforce. Option D is wrong because a bucket policy is per-bucket and cannot be applied globally.
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.
✗
Configure a bucket policy on each S3 bucket to deny public access.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies are per-bucket and cannot be centrally applied to all buckets.
✗
Create an AWS Config rule to mark noncompliant buckets.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules only detect and report, they do not enforce blocking public access.
✗
Attach an IAM policy to the root user of each account.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies are account-specific and cannot enforce across all accounts centrally.
✓
Attach a service control policy (SCP) to the root organizational unit.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions that make S3 buckets public across all accounts in the organization.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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.
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 DOP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Attach a service control policy (SCP) to the root organizational unit. — Service control policies (SCPs) can be applied to organizational units to restrict permissions across member accounts. Option B is correct because SCPs allow denial of actions that would make S3 buckets public. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are account-specific and cannot be applied centrally to all accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS Config rules can detect but not enforce. Option D is wrong because a bucket policy is per-bucket and cannot be applied globally.
What should I do if I get this DOP-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 DOP-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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Question Discussion
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