The answer is that the user lacks permission to accept the VPC peering connection because the IAM policy restricts the `AcceptVpcPeeringConnection` action to resources in account A only, while the accept operation must be performed on the peering connection resource owned by the accepter account (account B). Even though the first statement allows `ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection` on all resources (`*`), the second statement’s resource ARN explicitly limits actions to peering connections in account A, and the accept action is not listed in that second statement’s action set—creating an implicit deny for resources outside account A. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that VPC peering acceptance is a cross-account action requiring the accepter’s IAM permissions on the specific peering resource ARN, not just a wildcard. A common trap is assuming a global `*` resource grant covers cross-account operations; it does not when a more specific resource policy exists. Memory tip: “Peering accept is the accepter’s act—your policy must match the resource’s account fact.”
ANS-C01 Network Management and Operations Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. The IAM policy above is attached to a user in account A (123456789012). The user needs to create a VPC peering connection with account B and accept it. The user in account A can create the peering request, but the accept fails with an 'UnauthorizedOperation' error. What is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user does not have permission to accept the peering connection from the other account
Option C is correct because the 'AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' action is allowed on all resources ('*'), but the specific ARN for the peering connection is not granted for the accept action. The second statement allows actions only on peering connections in account A, but the accept action is performed on the requester's side? Actually, the accept is done by the accepter (account B). The user in account A is trying to accept? The scenario says 'the user in account A can create the peering request, but the accept fails'. Actually, the accept is done by account B. So the user in account A cannot accept a peering connection that belongs to account B. The policy allows accept on 'ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' with resource '*', but the accept action is performed on the resource in the accepter account. The second statement restricts to peering connections in account A. The accept action is not covered by the second statement because it's not in the action list of the second statement. Wait, the first statement allows accept on all resources. So why would it fail? The issue is that the accept action is called on the peering connection resource in the accepter account, which is not in account A. The policy does not have permissions for resources in other accounts. The correct answer is that the user does not have permission to accept the peering connection because the resource ARN in the second statement only covers peering connections in account A. But the first statement allows accept on all resources. However, the 'ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' action requires permission on the resource of the peering connection in the accepter account. Since the user is in account A, they cannot accept a peering connection that is owned by account B. The most likely reason is that the user lacks permissions to accept the peering connection in the other account. Option C captures this.
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.
✗
The user does not have permission to create routes in the VPC
Why it's wrong here
Route creation is allowed.
✗
The 'ec2:CreateVpcPeeringConnection' action requires a specific VPC ARN
Why it's wrong here
It is allowed on *.
✓
The user does not have permission to accept the peering connection from the other account
Why this is correct
The policy does not grant cross-account accept.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The 'ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' action is not allowed in the policy
Why it's wrong here
It is allowed in the first statement.
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 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.
Identify which ANS-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.
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user does not have permission to accept the peering connection from the other account — Option C is correct because the 'AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' action is allowed on all resources ('*'), but the specific ARN for the peering connection is not granted for the accept action. The second statement allows actions only on peering connections in account A, but the accept action is performed on the requester's side? Actually, the accept is done by the accepter (account B). The user in account A is trying to accept? The scenario says 'the user in account A can create the peering request, but the accept fails'. Actually, the accept is done by account B. So the user in account A cannot accept a peering connection that belongs to account B. The policy allows accept on 'ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' with resource '*', but the accept action is performed on the resource in the accepter account. The second statement restricts to peering connections in account A. The accept action is not covered by the second statement because it's not in the action list of the second statement. Wait, the first statement allows accept on all resources. So why would it fail? The issue is that the accept action is called on the peering connection resource in the accepter account, which is not in account A. The policy does not have permissions for resources in other accounts. The correct answer is that the user does not have permission to accept the peering connection because the resource ARN in the second statement only covers peering connections in account A. But the first statement allows accept on all resources. However, the 'ec2:AcceptVpcPeeringConnection' action requires permission on the resource of the peering connection in the accepter account. Since the user is in account A, they cannot accept a peering connection that is owned by account B. The most likely reason is that the user lacks permissions to accept the peering connection in the other account. Option C captures this.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which ANS-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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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