MLS-C01 Practice Question: Machine Learning Implementation and Operations
A data scientist needs to create a SageMaker notebook instance with access to a private S3 bucket. The bucket uses SSE-KMS encryption. Which additional configuration is required?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume that modifying the bucket policy (Option B) or placing the notebook in a VPC (Option C) is sufficient, overlooking the fact that SSE-KMS requires explicit KMS key permissions in the IAM role, not just S3-level access controls.
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
✓
Attach a policy to the notebook's IAM role that allows kms:Decrypt
When an S3 bucket uses SSE-KMS encryption, the SageMaker notebook instance's IAM role must include a policy that allows the kms:Decrypt action. This is necessary because SageMaker needs to decrypt the data using the KMS key when reading objects from the bucket. Without this permission, the notebook instance will fail to access the encrypted S3 objects, even if the bucket policy allows s3:GetObject.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add a lifecycle configuration script
Why it's wrong here
Does not grant KMS permissions.
- ✗
Modify the bucket policy to allow s3:GetObject
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policy alone does not cover KMS.
- ✗
Place the notebook instance in a VPC
Why it's wrong here
Not required for KMS access.
- ✓
Attach a policy to the notebook's IAM role that allows kms:Decrypt
Why this is correct
Needed to decrypt objects encrypted with SSE-KMS.
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 |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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