The answer is to configure cross-account access with an IAM role and add a bucket policy that allows the training job’s VPC. This is correct because the S3 bucket in the source account must explicitly grant access to the VPC where the SageMaker training job runs, typically via an S3 VPC endpoint, while the IAM role assumed by SageMaker in the source account provides the necessary cross-account trust. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate MLA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine network-level controls with identity-based policies for secure data access across accounts—a common trap is assuming that an IAM role alone is sufficient without also restricting the bucket policy to the specific VPC. Remember the two-layer rule: the bucket policy must allow the VPC, and the IAM role must allow the SageMaker service principal from the training account. A useful memory tip is “VPC plus role, that’s the goal.”
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses SageMaker training jobs that need to access data in an S3 bucket in a different AWS account. The bucket uses a bucket policy that allows access only from a specific VPC. How should they configure the training job?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use cross-account access with an IAM role and add a bucket policy allowing the training job's VPC.
The training job should be launched in a VPC with an S3 VPC endpoint, and the bucket policy must allow the VPC. Additionally, an IAM role in the source account with cross-account trust is needed. Option C combines both requirements.
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.
✗
Use AWS DataSync to copy data to the training account's S3.
Why it's wrong here
DataSync is for large data transfers, not for providing real-time access.
✗
Create an IAM role in the source account and assume it from the training account.
Why it's wrong here
This handles cross-account access but doesn't satisfy the VPC condition.
✗
Use an S3 VPC endpoint in the training job's VPC and attach a bucket policy that allows the VPC.
Why it's wrong here
This addresses the VPC condition but not the cross-account IAM permission.
✓
Use cross-account access with an IAM role and add a bucket policy allowing the training job's VPC.
Why this is correct
This combines IAM role assumption and VPC condition to meet both requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 MLA-C01 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.
ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security — This question tests ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use cross-account access with an IAM role and add a bucket policy allowing the training job's VPC. — The training job should be launched in a VPC with an S3 VPC endpoint, and the bucket policy must allow the VPC. Additionally, an IAM role in the source account with cross-account trust is needed. Option C combines both requirements.
What should I do if I get this MLA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which MLA-C01 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.
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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