- A
Create an IAM user for the pipeline and store access keys in the CI system.
Why wrong: IAM users typically rely on long-lived access keys, which you need to avoid by requirement.
- B
Create an IAM role in the production account, grant least-privilege policies, and let the CI assume it using STS AssumeRole.
IAM roles with STS provide temporary credentials and allow least-privilege permissions via attached policies.
- C
Attach the required permissions to an IAM group and add the pipeline’s principal to that group directly.
Why wrong: Groups apply to IAM identities using credentials, but this does not inherently provide temporary STS credentials.
- D
Use AWS KMS to encrypt the pipeline’s access keys and store the ciphertext in the CI system.
Why wrong: Encrypting access keys does not replace the need for long-lived credentials and does not use STS.
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. A key principle to apply: iAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.. 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 CI/CD pipeline needs to deploy to your production environment. Security requires that the pipeline uses temporary credentials (not long-lived access keys) and only has permissions to read a specific set of parameters from AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and write application logs to CloudWatch Logs. What is the best AWS approach?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Create an IAM role in the production account, grant least-privilege policies, and let the CI assume it using STS AssumeRole.
Option B is correct because it uses an IAM role with least-privilege policies that the CI/CD pipeline can assume via AWS STS AssumeRole, generating temporary credentials that automatically expire. This eliminates the need for long-lived access keys and adheres to the security requirement of using temporary credentials. The role's policies can be scoped to exactly read specific parameters from Systems Manager Parameter Store and write logs to CloudWatch Logs.
Key principle: IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create an IAM user for the pipeline and store access keys in the CI system.
Why it's wrong here
IAM users typically rely on long-lived access keys, which you need to avoid by requirement.
- ✓
Create an IAM role in the production account, grant least-privilege policies, and let the CI assume it using STS AssumeRole.
Why this is correct
IAM roles with STS provide temporary credentials and allow least-privilege permissions via attached policies.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.
- ✗
Attach the required permissions to an IAM group and add the pipeline’s principal to that group directly.
Why it's wrong here
Groups apply to IAM identities using credentials, but this does not inherently provide temporary STS credentials.
- ✗
Use AWS KMS to encrypt the pipeline’s access keys and store the ciphertext in the CI system.
Why it's wrong here
Encrypting access keys does not replace the need for long-lived credentials and does not use STS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option A or D because they focus on credential storage rather than the fundamental requirement for temporary credentials, or they may confuse IAM groups with roles, thinking a group can be used for cross-account access without understanding that groups only apply to IAM users within the same account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When the CI/CD pipeline calls STS AssumeRole, it receives a temporary security token (access key ID, secret access key, and session token) valid for a configurable duration (default 1 hour, max 12 hours). The role's trust policy must explicitly allow the pipeline's IAM principal (e.g., an IAM role in another account or an AWS service like CodeBuild) to assume it, and the permissions policy grants read access to specific Parameter Store paths (e.g., using 'ssm:GetParameter' with a resource ARN like 'arn:aws:ssm:region:account:parameter/prod/*') and write access to CloudWatch Logs (e.g., 'logs:PutLogEvents' on a specific log group).
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.
- Roles enable cross-account access and delegation without sharing long-lived keys.
- Trust policies define who can assume an IAM role.
- Permissions policies attached to roles enforce least privilege for assumed identities.
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
IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.
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 iAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Secure Architectures — This question tests Design Secure Architectures — IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM role in the production account, grant least-privilege policies, and let the CI assume it using STS AssumeRole. — Option B is correct because it uses an IAM role with least-privilege policies that the CI/CD pipeline can assume via AWS STS AssumeRole, generating temporary credentials that automatically expire. This eliminates the need for long-lived access keys and adheres to the security requirement of using temporary credentials. The role's policies can be scoped to exactly read specific parameters from Systems Manager Parameter Store and write logs to CloudWatch Logs.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review iAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via STS AssumeRole.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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