- A
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
This scopes object writes to only the uploads/ prefix (resource-level restriction for s3:PutObject) and scopes object listing to only that same prefix by restricting the ListBucket request via the s3:prefix condition key (bucket-level authorization for s3:ListBucket).
- B
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts without any prefix condition.
Why wrong: This permits writes to any object path in the bucket and allows listing of all prefixes/keys because there is no condition restricting the ListBucket results to uploads/. That is broader than the uploads-only requirement.
- C
Allow s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* so the pipeline can confirm artifacts exist.
Why wrong: s3:GetObject grants read access to objects; it does not grant permission to upload artifacts. The core requirement includes uploading to uploads/.
- D
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and also allow s3:DeleteObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*.
Why wrong: DeleteObject is not required to verify an upload succeeded and increases blast radius by allowing the principal to remove uploaded artifacts. Least privilege favors granting only the minimum actions necessary (PutObject and scoped ListBucket).
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition restricting s3:prefix to uploads/. This is the best fit for a least privilege S3 IAM policy for CI pipeline because it precisely scopes the write action to the uploads directory while using a condition key to limit the list action to only that prefix, preventing the pipeline from seeing other bucket contents. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that s3:ListBucket operates at the bucket level, not the object level, so you must pair it with a condition to enforce a specific prefix—a common trap is granting s3:ListBucket on the entire bucket without restriction, which violates least privilege. Remember the memory tip: “Put on the path, List with a prefix condition” to keep write and read scopes separate.
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 CI pipeline needs to upload build artifacts only to s3://ci-artifacts/uploads/*. You also want the pipeline to list only objects under uploads/ to verify that the upload succeeded. Which IAM policy approach is the best fit for least privilege?
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.
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 s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required permissions: s3:PutObject on the specific uploads/ path for uploading artifacts, and s3:ListBucket on the bucket with a condition restricting the s3:prefix to uploads/ to list only objects under that prefix. This follows the least privilege principle by scoping both actions to the exact resources needed.
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 s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
Why this is correct
This scopes object writes to only the uploads/ prefix (resource-level restriction for s3:PutObject) and scopes object listing to only that same prefix by restricting the ListBucket request via the s3:prefix condition key (bucket-level authorization for s3:ListBucket).
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts without any prefix condition.
Why it's wrong here
This permits writes to any object path in the bucket and allows listing of all prefixes/keys because there is no condition restricting the ListBucket results to uploads/. That is broader than the uploads-only requirement.
- ✗
Allow s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* so the pipeline can confirm artifacts exist.
Why it's wrong here
s3:GetObject grants read access to objects; it does not grant permission to upload artifacts. The core requirement includes uploading to uploads/.
- ✗
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and also allow s3:DeleteObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*.
Why it's wrong here
DeleteObject is not required to verify an upload succeeded and increases blast radius by allowing the principal to remove uploaded artifacts. Least privilege favors granting only the minimum actions necessary (PutObject and scoped ListBucket).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse s3:GetObject with s3:ListBucket for verifying uploads, or they forget to restrict the s3:prefix condition on ListBucket, leading to overly permissive policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The s3:ListBucket action operates at the bucket level and requires a condition key like s3:prefix to restrict the list to a specific path; without it, the policy would allow listing all objects in the bucket. The s3:PutObject action is a resource-level permission that can be scoped to a specific prefix using an ARN pattern like arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*. In practice, using a condition for s3:prefix on ListBucket is essential for least privilege when the pipeline only needs to verify objects under a specific folder, as it prevents exposure of other bucket contents.
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/. — Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required permissions: s3:PutObject on the specific uploads/ path for uploading artifacts, and s3:ListBucket on the bucket with a condition restricting the s3:prefix to uploads/ to list only objects under that prefix. This follows the least privilege principle by scoping both actions to the exact resources needed.
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: "best", "least". 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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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