- A
Use the same IAM role for all pipeline stages to simplify management.
Why wrong: Violates least privilege.
- B
Use an SCP to deny all pipeline actions except those explicitly allowed.
Why wrong: SCPs apply to accounts, not pipelines.
- C
Attach an IAM policy to the pipeline itself that grants full access to all services.
Why wrong: Pipelines do not have IAM policies; roles do.
- D
Scope IAM policies to specific resources, such as specific S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects.
Resource-level scope limits permissions.
- E
Create separate IAM roles for CodeBuild and CodeDeploy with only the permissions they require.
Separate roles for each action limits blast radius.
Question 1,535 of 1,750
Least Privilege IAM for CodePipeline
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 is designing a secure CI/CD pipeline using AWS CodePipeline. The pipeline must comply with the principle of least privilege for IAM permissions. Which TWO actions should the DevOps engineer take? (Choose TWO.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
✓
Scope IAM policies to specific resources, such as specific S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects.
The correct answers are D and E, as they align with the principle of least privilege by limiting permissions to only what is necessary. Option D is correct because scoping IAM policies to specific resources (e.g., particular S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects) ensures that the pipeline can only access the exact resources it needs. Option E is correct because creating separate IAM roles for CodeBuild and CodeDeploy with only the permissions they require prevents a compromised stage from affecting others. Option A is wrong because using the same IAM role for all stages violates least privilege; a single role would have permissions needed by all stages, increasing risk. Option B is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) are applied at the AWS Organizations level, not to individual pipelines, and cannot be used to manage pipeline permissions directly. Option C is wrong because granting full access to all services is the opposite of least privilege and would allow unintended actions.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use the same IAM role for all pipeline stages to simplify management.
Why it's wrong here
Violates least privilege.
- ✗
Use an SCP to deny all pipeline actions except those explicitly allowed.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs apply to accounts, not pipelines.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to the pipeline itself that grants full access to all services.
Why it's wrong here
Pipelines do not have IAM policies; roles do.
- ✓
Scope IAM policies to specific resources, such as specific S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects.
Why this is correct
Resource-level scope limits permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✓
Create separate IAM roles for CodeBuild and CodeDeploy with only the permissions they require.
Why this is correct
Separate roles for each action limits blast radius.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DOP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security and Compliance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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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 — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scope IAM policies to specific resources, such as specific S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects. — The correct answers are D and E, as they align with the principle of least privilege by limiting permissions to only what is necessary. Option D is correct because scoping IAM policies to specific resources (e.g., particular S3 buckets and CodeBuild projects) ensures that the pipeline can only access the exact resources it needs. Option E is correct because creating separate IAM roles for CodeBuild and CodeDeploy with only the permissions they require prevents a compromised stage from affecting others. Option A is wrong because using the same IAM role for all stages violates least privilege; a single role would have permissions needed by all stages, increasing risk. Option B is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) are applied at the AWS Organizations level, not to individual pipelines, and cannot be used to manage pipeline permissions directly. Option C is wrong because granting full access to all services is the opposite of least privilege and would allow unintended actions.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DOP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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