The answer is that the internet gateway creation is denied because the IAM policy deny effect on resource creation without tags overrides the allow statement. This occurs because the Deny statement uses the StringNotEquals condition operator with the key 'aws:ResourceTag/purpose' set to 'production'. When a resource is created without any tags, the condition evaluates to true—since no tag exists, it is not equal to 'production'—triggering the explicit Deny, which always takes precedence over any Allow. For the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of IAM policy evaluation logic, specifically how Deny statements with tag-based conditions can block resource creation even when an Allow exists for the same action. A common trap is assuming that a missing tag simply means the condition is ignored; in reality, StringNotEquals treats a missing tag as a mismatch, activating the Deny. Memory tip: “No tag means no match for NotEquals—Deny wins.”
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 network administrator attached the IAM policy shown to a user. The user tries to create an internet gateway in us-east-1 without any tags. What will happen?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The internet gateway creation is denied because the Deny statement applies.
The first statement allows CreateInternetGateway in us-east-1. The second statement denies CreateInternetGateway if the resource tag 'purpose' is not 'production'. When creating a resource without tags, the condition StringNotEquals evaluates to true (since no tag, it's not equal to 'production'), so the Deny applies. The Deny overrides the Allow. So the action is denied. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because the Deny applies. Option C is wrong because the Deny does not require explicit allow. Option D is wrong because the Deny is effective.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 internet gateway creation fails because the first statement does not allow it in us-east-1.
Why it's wrong here
The first statement does allow it in us-east-1.
✗
The internet gateway is created but the user receives a warning.
Why it's wrong here
IAM denies the action, no warning.
✓
The internet gateway creation is denied because the Deny statement applies.
Why this is correct
Without the required tag, the Deny blocks the action.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The internet gateway is created successfully because the first statement allows it.
Why it's wrong here
The Deny overrides the Allow.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related ANS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The internet gateway creation is denied because the Deny statement applies. — The first statement allows CreateInternetGateway in us-east-1. The second statement denies CreateInternetGateway if the resource tag 'purpose' is not 'production'. When creating a resource without tags, the condition StringNotEquals evaluates to true (since no tag, it's not equal to 'production'), so the Deny applies. The Deny overrides the Allow. So the action is denied. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because the Deny applies. Option C is wrong because the Deny does not require explicit allow. Option D is wrong because the Deny is effective.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related ANS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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