Quick Answer
The answer is ec2:CreateNetworkAcl. This IAM policy action is the correct choice because it specifically grants permission to create a new network ACL, which is the foundational action required before any other management tasks like modifying attributes or associating subnets can occur. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between IAM actions that control network ACLs versus security groups, a common source of confusion. A frequent trap is selecting ec2:ModifyNetworkAclAttribute, which only changes existing ACL rules, or ec2:DescribeNetworkAcls, which is read-only and cannot create resources. Remember that to manage network ACLs from scratch, you must start with the create action. Memory tip: think "Create first, then modify" — just like building a house, you cannot change the walls until the foundation is laid.
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 company wants to allow a specific IAM user to manage network ACLs for a specific VPC only. Which IAM policy action should be used?
ec2:AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress
Why wrong: For security groups, not network ACLs.
ec2:ModifyNetworkAclAttribute
Why wrong: Modifies attributes, but not create.
ec2:CreateNetworkAcl
Allows creating network ACLs.
ec2:DescribeNetworkAcls
Why wrong: Read-only, cannot manage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ec2:CreateNetworkAcl
Option C is correct because ec2:CreateNetworkAcl is the action to create network ACLs. Option A is wrong because ec2:DescribeNetworkAcls is read-only. Option B is wrong because ec2:ModifyNetworkAclAttribute modifies attributes, not creation. Option D is wrong because ec2:AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress is for security groups, not network ACLs.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
ec2:AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress
Why it's wrong here
For security groups, not network ACLs.
ec2:ModifyNetworkAclAttribute
Why it's wrong here
Modifies attributes, but not create.
ec2:CreateNetworkAcl
Why this is correct
Allows creating network ACLs.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
ec2:DescribeNetworkAcls
Why it's wrong here
Read-only, cannot manage.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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
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
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.
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FAQ
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: ec2:CreateNetworkAcl — Option C is correct because ec2:CreateNetworkAcl is the action to create network ACLs. Option A is wrong because ec2:DescribeNetworkAcls is read-only. Option B is wrong because ec2:ModifyNetworkAclAttribute modifies attributes, not creation. Option D is wrong because ec2:AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress is for security groups, not network ACLs.
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.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This ANS-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 ANS-C01 exam.
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