- A
Allow only listing and reading with a single statement: Action = ["s3:*"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"].
Why wrong: This is overly broad because s3:* includes write and delete actions not required for reads. Least privilege requires restricting to s3:GetObject only. While the resource scope is close, wildcard actions expand permissions beyond the stated need.
- B
Allow reads with a prefix-scoped statement: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"].
This grants only the specific action s3:GetObject and scopes it to the exact prefix that the service needs. It aligns with least privilege by avoiding extra permissions like PutObject or DeleteObject. Since the service already has ListBucket, this completes the required read path for objects in incoming.
- C
Allow all S3 reads at the account level: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::*"].
Why wrong: Using arn:aws:s3:::* is not least privilege and allows access to every bucket in the account. Even though the action is GetObject, the scope is far wider than the required prefix. This would violate the stated requirement to restrict to s3://prod-reporting/incoming/.
- D
Allow bucket listing with a condition that forces the prefix: Action = ["s3:ListBucket"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting"], Condition = {"StringLike": {"s3:prefix": "incoming/*"}}.
Why wrong: This only affects ListBucket results, not object retrieval. GetObject calls require s3:GetObject permission on the specific object ARNs. Adding a condition to ListBucket does not resolve AccessDenied errors during GetObject for incoming objects.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to grant s3:GetObject permission on the resource arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*. This policy statement directly satisfies the least privilege principle by scoping the read action exclusively to objects under the incoming prefix, preventing access to any other part of the bucket. The existing s3:ListBucket permission already allows listing the bucket’s contents, so adding this prefix-scoped GetObject statement completes the required access without over-permissioning. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how S3 resource ARNs support path-based scoping for least privilege, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly grant GetObject on the bucket itself or include unnecessary wildcard actions. A common memory tip is to remember that S3 object-level permissions must include the object path in the ARN, while bucket-level actions like ListBucket use only the bucket ARN. Think of it as "List on the bucket, Get on the path" to avoid AccessDenied errors.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. 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 backend service uses an IAM role to read files from an S3 bucket. It must only read objects under s3://prod-reporting/incoming/ but currently receives AccessDenied (403) on GetObject for that prefix.
The role already has this statement: - Action: s3:ListBucket - Resource: arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting
Which policy statement would most directly follow least privilege to allow only the required reads under the incoming prefix?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Allow reads with a prefix-scoped statement: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"].
Option B is correct because it grants only the s3:GetObject permission on the specific prefix path arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*, which directly allows reading objects under that prefix while adhering to least privilege. The existing s3:ListBucket permission already enables listing the bucket, so only the missing read action needs to be added.
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.
- ✗
Allow only listing and reading with a single statement: Action = ["s3:*"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"].
Why it's wrong here
This is overly broad because s3:* includes write and delete actions not required for reads. Least privilege requires restricting to s3:GetObject only. While the resource scope is close, wildcard actions expand permissions beyond the stated need.
- ✓
Allow reads with a prefix-scoped statement: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"].
Why this is correct
This grants only the specific action s3:GetObject and scopes it to the exact prefix that the service needs. It aligns with least privilege by avoiding extra permissions like PutObject or DeleteObject. Since the service already has ListBucket, this completes the required read path for objects in incoming.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow all S3 reads at the account level: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::*"].
Why it's wrong here
Using arn:aws:s3:::* is not least privilege and allows access to every bucket in the account. Even though the action is GetObject, the scope is far wider than the required prefix. This would violate the stated requirement to restrict to s3://prod-reporting/incoming/.
- ✗
Allow bucket listing with a condition that forces the prefix: Action = ["s3:ListBucket"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting"], Condition = {"StringLike": {"s3:prefix": "incoming/*"}}.
Why it's wrong here
This only affects ListBucket results, not object retrieval. GetObject calls require s3:GetObject permission on the specific object ARNs. Adding a condition to ListBucket does not resolve AccessDenied errors during GetObject for incoming objects.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse granting a ListBucket condition (Option D) with granting GetObject access, not realizing that the AccessDenied error on GetObject requires a separate s3:GetObject permission on the object ARN.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 IAM policies require separate statements for bucket-level actions (like s3:ListBucket) and object-level actions (like s3:GetObject), because the ARN format differs: bucket-level actions use arn:aws:s3:::bucket-name, while object-level actions use arn:aws:s3:::bucket-name/prefix/*. The s3:prefix condition key can further restrict ListBucket results, but it does not grant GetObject access; a common real-world scenario is when a service needs to list and then read files from a specific folder, requiring both permissions with appropriate ARNs.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Design Secure Architectures — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design Secure Architectures practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAA-C03 questions
1,040 questions across all exam domains
- →
SAA-C03 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAA-C03 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAA-C03 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Secure Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Secure Architectures.
Design Resilient Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Resilient Architectures.
Design High-Performing Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design High-Performing Architectures.
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Cost-Optimized Architectures.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAA-C03 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Secure Architectures — This question tests Design Secure Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allow reads with a prefix-scoped statement: Action = ["s3:GetObject"], Resource = ["arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*"]. — Option B is correct because it grants only the s3:GetObject permission on the specific prefix path arn:aws:s3:::prod-reporting/incoming/*, which directly allows reading objects under that prefix while adhering to least privilege. The existing s3:ListBucket permission already enables listing the bucket, so only the missing read action needs to be added.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SAA-C03 practice questions
- A content publishing system uses Lambda functions that call an unreliable third-party API. Failed events must be retaine…
- A startup runs two EC2-based workloads in the same AWS Region. Its customer-facing API is always on, and its nightly vid…
- A warehouse integration service must use shared file storage across Linux EC2 instances in multiple Availability Zones.…
- A team runs a stateless web app on Amazon EC2 behind an Application Load Balancer. During traffic spikes, new EC2 instan…
- A service in private subnets downloads product images from Amazon S3 and stores job state in DynamoDB. A NAT Gateway is…
- A static site is hosted in Amazon S3 and delivered by CloudFront. After a frontend release, the same JavaScript bundles…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SAA-C03 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 SAA-C03 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.