The correct action allowed is DescribeInstances on an instance in us-east-1. This is because IAM policy evaluation with conditions follows a logical flow where an explicit Deny overrides any Allow, but only when the condition in the Deny statement evaluates to true. In this policy, the Deny statement blocks all ec2 actions on instances only when the requested region is not us-east-1; since the condition uses a negation, a request targeting us-east-1 makes the condition false, so the Deny does not apply, and the Allow statement for DescribeInstances takes effect. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how condition keys like aws:RequestedRegion interact with explicit Deny and Allow statements—a common trap is assuming a Deny always blocks an action, forgetting that conditions can narrow its scope. A key memory tip is “Deny with a condition is only a block when the condition is true; otherwise, it’s as if the Deny isn’t there.”
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DescribeInstances on an instance in us-east-1
Option B is correct because the Deny statement only denies ec2 actions on instances when the requested region is NOT us-east-1. Since DescribeInstances is allowed by the first statement and the Deny does not apply to DescribeInstances (action is ec2:*, but the condition only denies if region is not us-east-1, and if the request is for us-east-1, the condition is false, so the Deny does not apply. However, note that the Deny statement denies all ec2 actions (including DescribeInstances) on instances when the condition is met. But if the request is for us-east-1, the condition is false, so no Deny, so DescribeInstances in us-east-1 is allowed. Option A is wrong because StopInstances is an ec2 action on an instance, and if the region is us-east-1, the condition is false, so the Deny does not apply, but the Allow statement only allows DescribeInstances, not StopInstances. Since there is no explicit Allow for StopInstances, it is implicitly denied. Option C is wrong because if the region is us-west-2, the condition is true, so the Deny applies to all ec2 actions on instances, including DescribeInstances, so it is denied. Option D is wrong because although the Deny would apply to StartInstances if region is not us-east-1, but if region is us-east-1, the Deny does not apply, but there is no Allow for StartInstances, so it is implicitly denied.
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.
✓
DescribeInstances on an instance in us-east-1
Why this is correct
Allowed by the first statement and not denied because condition is false.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
StartInstances on an instance in us-east-1
Why it's wrong here
No explicit Allow, so implicitly denied.
✗
DescribeInstances on an instance in us-west-2
Why it's wrong here
Denied because condition is true and Deny overrides Allow.
✗
StopInstances on an instance in us-east-1
Why it's wrong here
No explicit Allow for StopInstances, so implicitly denied.
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 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.
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: DescribeInstances on an instance in us-east-1 — Option B is correct because the Deny statement only denies ec2 actions on instances when the requested region is NOT us-east-1. Since DescribeInstances is allowed by the first statement and the Deny does not apply to DescribeInstances (action is ec2:*, but the condition only denies if region is not us-east-1, and if the request is for us-east-1, the condition is false, so the Deny does not apply. However, note that the Deny statement denies all ec2 actions (including DescribeInstances) on instances when the condition is met. But if the request is for us-east-1, the condition is false, so no Deny, so DescribeInstances in us-east-1 is allowed. Option A is wrong because StopInstances is an ec2 action on an instance, and if the region is us-east-1, the condition is false, so the Deny does not apply, but the Allow statement only allows DescribeInstances, not StopInstances. Since there is no explicit Allow for StopInstances, it is implicitly denied. Option C is wrong because if the region is us-west-2, the condition is true, so the Deny applies to all ec2 actions on instances, including DescribeInstances, so it is denied. Option D is wrong because although the Deny would apply to StartInstances if region is not us-east-1, but if region is us-east-1, the Deny does not apply, but there is no Allow for StartInstances, so it is implicitly denied.
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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