- A
Change the KMS statement Action to "kms:DescribeKey" instead of "kms:Decrypt"
Why wrong: kms:DescribeKey does not allow decryption of data; the endpoint needs kms:Decrypt to read the encrypted objects.
- B
Add a condition to the KMS statement: "Condition": { "StringEquals": { "kms:ViaService": "s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com" } }
Why wrong: This condition restricts decryption to requests coming through S3, but the Resource is still '*', so it still allows decryption of all KMS keys when accessed via S3, which is not least privilege.
- C
Remove the KMS statement entirely, as S3 bucket policies with SSE-KMS do not require KMS permissions
Why wrong: S3 bucket policies with SSE-KMS require the IAM role to have kms:Decrypt permission to read objects. Removing the statement would cause access errors.
- D
Change the KMS statement to: "Action": "kms:Decrypt", "Resource": "arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456789012:key/1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab"
Restricting the Resource to the specific KMS key ARN ensures that the role can only decrypt the key used for the healthcare data, adhering to least privilege.
MLA-C01 Practice Question: ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security
This MLA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of ml solution monitoring, maintenance and security. 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 healthcare startup has deployed a machine learning model on Amazon SageMaker that predicts patient readmission risks. The model uses sensitive health data stored in an S3 bucket encrypted with AWS KMS. The SageMaker endpoint is configured with an IAM role that has the following policy attached: { "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::healthcare-data/*", "Condition": { "Bool": { "aws:SecureTransport": "true" } } }, { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "kms:Decrypt", "Resource": "*" } ] }. During a security audit, the team discovers that the IAM role's KMS permission is too permissive because it allows decryption of any KMS key in the account. The team needs to modify the policy to follow the principle of least privilege while still allowing the SageMaker endpoint to read the encrypted data. Which modification should the team make?
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
Change the KMS statement to: "Action": "kms:Decrypt", "Resource": "arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456789012:key/1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab"
The current policy allows kms:Decrypt on any KMS key (*). To follow least privilege, the team should restrict the Resource to the specific KMS key used to encrypt the S3 bucket. Option A (change the Action to kms:Decrypt and restrict Resource to the specific key ARN) is correct. Option B (remove the KMS statement entirely) would break the endpoint because it cannot decrypt the data. Option C (add a condition for specific encryption context) is good practice but still allows decryption of any key if condition is met, not least privilege. Option D (use kms:DescribeKey instead of kms:Decrypt) does not allow decryption.
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.
- ✗
Change the KMS statement Action to "kms:DescribeKey" instead of "kms:Decrypt"
Why it's wrong here
kms:DescribeKey does not allow decryption of data; the endpoint needs kms:Decrypt to read the encrypted objects.
- ✗
Add a condition to the KMS statement: "Condition": { "StringEquals": { "kms:ViaService": "s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com" } }
Why it's wrong here
This condition restricts decryption to requests coming through S3, but the Resource is still '*', so it still allows decryption of all KMS keys when accessed via S3, which is not least privilege.
- ✗
Remove the KMS statement entirely, as S3 bucket policies with SSE-KMS do not require KMS permissions
Why it's wrong here
S3 bucket policies with SSE-KMS require the IAM role to have kms:Decrypt permission to read objects. Removing the statement would cause access errors.
- ✓
Change the KMS statement to: "Action": "kms:Decrypt", "Resource": "arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456789012:key/1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab"
Why this is correct
Restricting the Resource to the specific KMS key ARN ensures that the role can only decrypt the key used for the healthcare data, adhering to least privilege.
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.
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 MLA-C01 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MLA-C01 question test?
ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security — This question tests ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the KMS statement to: "Action": "kms:Decrypt", "Resource": "arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456789012:key/1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab" — The current policy allows kms:Decrypt on any KMS key (*). To follow least privilege, the team should restrict the Resource to the specific KMS key used to encrypt the S3 bucket. Option A (change the Action to kms:Decrypt and restrict Resource to the specific key ARN) is correct. Option B (remove the KMS statement entirely) would break the endpoint because it cannot decrypt the data. Option C (add a condition for specific encryption context) is good practice but still allows decryption of any key if condition is met, not least privilege. Option D (use kms:DescribeKey instead of kms:Decrypt) does not allow decryption.
What should I do if I get this MLA-C01 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 MLA-C01 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 23, 2026
This MLA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MLA-C01 exam.
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