- A
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
A bucket policy can use the request context key aws:sourceVpce to distinguish requests that came through a particular VPC endpoint. Using a Deny with a condition such as StringNotEquals on aws:sourceVpce blocks PutObject unless the request reached S3 via that specific Gateway Endpoint. Requests that arrive by other network paths will not match the required endpoint ID and will be denied.
- B
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement that blocks requests unless the principal uses MFA.
Why wrong: MFA affects authentication for interactive identity flows. It does not provide any guarantee about the network path or whether the request traversed a specific VPC endpoint, so it cannot enforce the required endpoint-level routing constraint.
- C
Enable Block Public Access and remove the public bucket policy statement.
Why wrong: Block Public Access prevents public exposure of the bucket, but it does not restrict access to a specific VPC endpoint. Private requests from other network locations (that can still reach S3 with valid credentials) would remain possible.
- D
Attach an IAM policy to the workload role that allows s3:PutObject only to the bucket ARN.
Why wrong: Least-privilege IAM limits which actions and resources are permitted, but IAM cannot constrain the origin network path (for example, forcing traffic to traverse vpce-0abc123example). A valid principal could still call S3 from anywhere that has network reachability and credentials.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example. This works because the aws:sourceVpce condition key allows you to restrict access based on the specific VPC Gateway Endpoint ID, ensuring that only traffic traversing that endpoint is permitted while all other sources—including the public internet or other VPCs—are explicitly denied. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine S3 bucket policies with VPC endpoints for granular network security, often appearing as a trap where students mistakenly use a source IP condition or a VPC ID instead of the endpoint ID. A common memory tip is to remember that Gateway Endpoints are not accessible from on-premises or peered VPCs, so the aws:sourceVpce key is the precise way to enforce this restriction at the bucket policy level. Think of it as "Deny unless the endpoint ID matches"—a simple but powerful exam shortcut.
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 company’s private workload in a VPC uploads objects to an S3 bucket. Security requires that S3 requests are allowed only when they traverse a specific S3 Gateway VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). Which change best enforces this restriction at the S3 bucket level?
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
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
Option A is correct because it uses an S3 bucket policy with a Deny statement that explicitly denies any s3:PutObject request unless the request originates from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). The aws:sourceVpce condition key evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the request is made, ensuring that only traffic through that specific Gateway VPC Endpoint is allowed. This enforces the security requirement at the bucket level, overriding any other policies that might allow access from other sources.
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.
- ✓
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
Why this is correct
A bucket policy can use the request context key aws:sourceVpce to distinguish requests that came through a particular VPC endpoint. Using a Deny with a condition such as StringNotEquals on aws:sourceVpce blocks PutObject unless the request reached S3 via that specific Gateway Endpoint. Requests that arrive by other network paths will not match the required endpoint ID and will be denied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement that blocks requests unless the principal uses MFA.
Why it's wrong here
MFA affects authentication for interactive identity flows. It does not provide any guarantee about the network path or whether the request traversed a specific VPC endpoint, so it cannot enforce the required endpoint-level routing constraint.
- ✗
Enable Block Public Access and remove the public bucket policy statement.
Why it's wrong here
Block Public Access prevents public exposure of the bucket, but it does not restrict access to a specific VPC endpoint. Private requests from other network locations (that can still reach S3 with valid credentials) would remain possible.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to the workload role that allows s3:PutObject only to the bucket ARN.
Why it's wrong here
Least-privilege IAM limits which actions and resources are permitted, but IAM cannot constrain the origin network path (for example, forcing traffic to traverse vpce-0abc123example). A valid principal could still call S3 from anywhere that has network reachability and credentials.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse IAM policies (which control who can act) with bucket policies (which control how and from where access is allowed), leading them to choose an IAM-based solution (Option D) that does not enforce the network-level restriction required by the scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The aws:sourceVpce condition key works by checking the VPC Endpoint ID present in the request context, which is only populated when the request traverses a VPC Endpoint. This condition is evaluated at the S3 bucket policy level, making it a powerful tool for enforcing network-based access control. In practice, this is often used alongside VPC Endpoint policies to create a defense-in-depth strategy, ensuring that even if an IAM role has broad permissions, the network path is restricted.
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: Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example. — Option A is correct because it uses an S3 bucket policy with a Deny statement that explicitly denies any s3:PutObject request unless the request originates from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). The aws:sourceVpce condition key evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the request is made, ensuring that only traffic through that specific Gateway VPC Endpoint is allowed. This enforces the security requirement at the bucket level, overriding any other policies that might allow access from other sources.
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". 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
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.
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