Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A Lambda function needs to read the current value of exactly one AWS Secrets Manager secret at startup. Which least-privilege IAM permission (action and resource scope) should you grant to the Lambda execution role?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
secretsmanager:ListSecrets on all secrets (resource set to "*")
ListSecrets allows enumerating secrets. If the function already knows the specific secret it must read, enumeration is unnecessary and violates least privilege by granting access to potentially many secrets.
B
Best answer
secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on only the secret’s full ARN
GetSecretValue is the specific action required to retrieve the secret value. Scoping the permission to the secret’s full ARN ensures the Lambda role can read only that secret and cannot access other secrets.
C
Distractor review
secretsmanager:UpdateSecret on the specific secret ARN
UpdateSecret grants write/update capabilities to the secret. The scenario requires reading only, so granting update permissions increases risk if the function code or execution role is compromised.
D
Distractor review
secretsmanager:DescribeSecret on all secrets (resource set to "*")
DescribeSecret returns metadata about a secret (for example, name/rotation settings) and does not provide the secret value itself. Using "*" is also broader than required.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A team needs to distribute TCP traffic (not HTTP) across multiple services. The services must see the original client source IP for auditing. Which AWS load balancer is the best fit?
Question 2
A team wants to run containerized services with AWS-managed orchestration and autoscaling. They do NOT require Kubernetes compatibility. Which AWS service choice is most appropriate to meet these goals?
Question 3
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a IoT ingestion API. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure? The design must avoid adding custom operational scripts.
Question 4
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a claims portal. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
Question 5
A team wants to delegate IAM management to developers, but must ensure developers can never grant themselves permissions beyond a specific limit. Which AWS mechanism best matches this requirement?
Question 6
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a healthcare document service. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on only the secret’s full ARN — Grant the Lambda execution role the least-privilege permission secretsmanager:GetSecretValue scoped to the full ARN of the single secret. This allows the function to retrieve the secret value it needs at startup, while preventing access to any other secrets. Other permissions (such as ListSecrets or UpdateSecret) are either unnecessary for reading or expand the blast radius beyond the stated requirement. Why others are wrong: ListSecrets enables enumeration and is unnecessary when the secret ARN/name is known. UpdateSecret is write access and is outside the requirement to read only. DescribeSecret provides metadata but not the secret value, and using a wildcard resource scope is unnecessarily broad.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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