The answer is that the aws:SourceIp condition key does not evaluate private IP addresses when traffic routes through a VPC endpoint. This is because aws:SourceIp only works with the public IP address of the requester, but when you use an S3 VPC endpoint, the source IP seen by S3 is a private IP from within your VPC, which the condition key cannot inspect. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how VPC endpoints override standard IP-based conditions, often appearing as a trick where a policy looks correct but fails silently. A common trap is assuming aws:SourceIp works for all traffic, but it explicitly excludes requests made through VPC endpoints. Remember the memory tip: “SourceIp is for public IPs only; VPC endpoints use private IPs, so use aws:VpcSourceIp instead.”
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.
An IAM policy is attached to an IAM user. The user reports that they cannot download objects from the S3 bucket 'example-bucket' even though they are connecting from within the 10.0.0.0/16 IP range. What is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user is accessing S3 through a VPC endpoint, but the condition only works for public IP addresses.
The condition 'aws:SourceIp' evaluates the IP address of the requester. However, if the user is accessing S3 through a VPC endpoint, the source IP is a private IP from the VPC, but the condition works only for public IP addresses. Option C is correct. Option A is wrong because the policy allows GetObject. Option B is wrong because the resource is correct. Option D is wrong because the condition is for source IP, not VPC endpoint.
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 policy needs an additional condition for VPC endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
The condition should be changed, not added.
✗
The policy does not allow the s3:ListBucket action.
Why it's wrong here
GetObject does not require ListBucket; the error is likely permissions.
✓
The user is accessing S3 through a VPC endpoint, but the condition only works for public IP addresses.
Why this is correct
The aws:SourceIp condition does not work for VPC endpoint traffic; use aws:VpcSourceIp instead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The resource ARN is missing the bucket-level permission.
Why it's wrong here
For GetObject, the object-level ARN is correct.
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.
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: The user is accessing S3 through a VPC endpoint, but the condition only works for public IP addresses. — The condition 'aws:SourceIp' evaluates the IP address of the requester. However, if the user is accessing S3 through a VPC endpoint, the source IP is a private IP from the VPC, but the condition works only for public IP addresses. Option C is correct. Option A is wrong because the policy allows GetObject. Option B is wrong because the resource is correct. Option D is wrong because the condition is for source IP, not VPC endpoint.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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