Question 1,398 of 1,705
Network Security, Compliance and GovernanceeasyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Restrict S3 Bucket to a Specific VPC — Using aws:SourceVpc Condition Key

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 restrict access to an S3 bucket so that only requests from a specific VPC are allowed. The bucket policy should deny requests that do not originate from the VPC. Which condition key should be used in the bucket policy?

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

aws:SourceVpc

The correct condition key is `aws:SourceVpc`, which allows you to restrict access to an S3 bucket based on the VPC from which the request originates. When used in a bucket policy with a Deny effect, it ensures that only requests coming from the specified VPC ID are allowed, and all other requests are denied. This key is specifically designed for VPC-based access control in S3 bucket policies.

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.

  • aws:SourceVpc

    Why this is correct

    This condition key restricts access to a specific VPC.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • aws:VpcSourceIp

    Why it's wrong here

    This condition key does not exist.

  • aws:Referer

    Why it's wrong here

    This is for HTTP referer headers.

  • aws:SourceIp

    Why it's wrong here

    This is for IP addresses, not VPCs.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

AWS often tests the distinction between `aws:SourceVpc` and `aws:SourceIp` — the trap here is that candidates mistakenly choose `aws:SourceIp` thinking they can restrict by VPC by using the VPC's CIDR range, but this fails because requests from within the VPC may have different source IPs (e.g., private IPs or NAT public IPs) and cannot reliably identify the VPC.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `aws:SourceVpc` condition key works by checking the VPC ID from which the request was made, which is available in the request context when the request comes from an S3 VPC endpoint (either Gateway or Interface endpoint). This is particularly useful in hybrid architectures where you want to allow access only from resources within a specific VPC, such as EC2 instances or Lambda functions, while blocking all external access including from other VPCs or the public internet. A common real-world scenario is when you have a VPC with an S3 Gateway Endpoint and you want to ensure that only traffic routed through that endpoint (and thus staying within the AWS network) can access the bucket, preventing data exfiltration via the public internet.

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.

TExam Day Tips

  • 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.

Quick reference

AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison

Storage ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this ANS-C01 question test?

Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: aws:SourceVpc — The correct condition key is `aws:SourceVpc`, which allows you to restrict access to an S3 bucket based on the VPC from which the request originates. When used in a bucket policy with a Deny effect, it ensures that only requests coming from the specified VPC ID are allowed, and all other requests are denied. This key is specifically designed for VPC-based access control in S3 bucket policies.

What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Same concept, more angles

2 more ways this is tested on ANS-C01

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A company wants to restrict access to an S3 bucket so that only requests from a specific VPC are allowed. Which policy should they use?

easy
  • A.Create an IAM policy that restricts access to the VPC and attach it to all users.
  • B.Attach a security group to the S3 bucket that allows traffic from the VPC.
  • C.Add a bucket policy with a condition that requires aws:SourceVpc to be the VPC ID.
  • D.Create a VPC Endpoint policy that allows access only from the VPC.

Why C: Option C is correct because S3 bucket policies can use the aws:SourceVpc condition key to restrict access to requests originating from a specific VPC. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are attached to users, roles, or groups, not to the bucket itself, and they cannot restrict based on VPC directly. Option B is wrong because security groups cannot be attached to S3 buckets; they are used for EC2 instances and other resources. Option D is wrong because a VPC Endpoint policy controls what actions are allowed through the endpoint, but it does not restrict access based on the source VPC; the bucket policy is required for that.

Variation 2. A company wants to restrict access to an S3 bucket so that only traffic from a specific VPC can read objects. Which policy type should be used?

easy
  • A.Configure a VPC endpoint policy
  • B.Configure a network ACL to block all traffic except from the VPC CIDR
  • C.Use an S3 access point with a network origin condition
  • D.Attach an S3 bucket policy with a condition for aws:SourceVpc

Why D: S3 bucket policies support condition keys like `aws:SourceVpc` to restrict access to traffic originating from a specific VPC. Option D is correct because attaching a bucket policy with this condition directly limits access to the desired VPC. Option A is incorrect because a VPC endpoint policy controls actions allowed via the endpoint, but does not replace the need for a bucket policy. Option B is incorrect because network ACLs operate at the subnet level and cannot enforce S3 access restrictions. Option C is incorrect because while S3 access points can have policies, they are not the primary method for restricting access by VPC; a bucket policy with the `aws:SourceVpc` condition is the appropriate approach.

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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026

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