This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. An IAM policy is attached to a role used by a CI/CD system. The policy is intended to allow starting the pipeline 'MyPipeline' from the same account. However, the CI/CD system receives an 'AccessDenied' error when trying to start the pipeline. What is the problem?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Deny statement with the 'aws:SourceAccount' condition denies access if the condition key is not present in the request.
The Deny statement with the `aws:SourceAccount` condition key denies access unless the request includes that condition key. When the CI/CD system assumes the role and makes a `StartPipelineExecution` API call, the request context does not automatically include the `aws:SourceAccount` key unless explicitly added by the caller. Since the condition is not satisfied, the Deny statement applies, resulting in an 'AccessDenied' error even though the Allow statement grants the necessary action.
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.
✗
The Allow statement does not specify the correct pipeline ARN.
Why it's wrong here
The ARN is correct.
✗
The policy needs an additional Allow for 'codepipeline:GetPipeline' to start the pipeline.
Why it's wrong here
StartPipelineExecution alone is sufficient.
✗
The role does not have permission to pass the policy to the CI/CD system.
Why it's wrong here
Policy is attached to role, not passed.
✓
The Deny statement with the 'aws:SourceAccount' condition denies access if the condition key is not present in the request.
Why this is correct
If the condition key is absent, the Deny applies, causing AccessDenied.
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 overlook the explicit Deny statement with a condition key, assuming the Allow statement alone is sufficient, and instead focus on missing permissions or incorrect ARNs, not realizing that an explicit Deny with an unsatisfied condition will block access regardless of any Allow.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SourceAccount` condition key is typically used in resource-based policies (like S3 bucket policies) to prevent confused deputy problems, but when used in an identity-based policy attached to a role, it requires the caller's request to include that key. In AWS, condition keys like `aws:SourceAccount` are not automatically present in all API requests; they must be explicitly provided by the calling service or user. This subtlety often leads to unexpected Deny effects when the condition is not met, as the explicit Deny overrides any Allow.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Deny statement with the 'aws:SourceAccount' condition denies access if the condition key is not present in the request. — The Deny statement with the `aws:SourceAccount` condition key denies access unless the request includes that condition key. When the CI/CD system assumes the role and makes a `StartPipelineExecution` API call, the request context does not automatically include the `aws:SourceAccount` key unless explicitly added by the caller. Since the condition is not satisfied, the Deny statement applies, resulting in an 'AccessDenied' error even though the Allow statement grants the necessary action.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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