- A
In the task role policy statement for secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on the secret ARN, add a condition that allows the action only when aws:SourceVpce equals vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h.
For Interface VPC endpoints, aws:SourceVpce can be used as a condition key so KMS/Secrets Manager API authorization succeeds only when the request originates from the specified endpoint. Restricting the IAM permission to aws:SourceVpce=vpce-... directly matches the requirement that calls must not traverse other network paths (e.g., via NAT/egress).
- B
Add a condition that allows secretsmanager:GetSecretValue only when aws:SourceIp is within 10.0.0.0/8.
Why wrong: Source IP conditions cannot reliably prove that the traffic used the required Interface VPC endpoint. Requests can be translated by NAT gateways, proxies, or load balancers, and the observed Source IP may not uniquely identify the endpoint path.
- C
Require TLS by adding a condition on aws:SecureTransport for the Secrets Manager permission.
Why wrong: aws:SecureTransport enforces that the request uses HTTPS, but it does not restrict which network path was used to reach Secrets Manager. A call could still reach the public endpoint over an unintended route while using TLS.
- D
Add a KMS condition using kms:ViaService=secretsmanager.us-east-1.amazonaws.com instead of restricting Secrets Manager directly.
Why wrong: The kms:ViaService condition affects whether a key can be used via a particular AWS service context, but the question’s requirement is about the network path to the Secrets Manager API. This does not constrain the request to originate from the specified Interface VPC endpoint.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add a condition in the IAM task role policy that restricts `secretsmanager:GetSecretValue` to only allow the action when `aws:SourceVpce` equals `vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h`. This works because the `aws:SourceVpce` condition key evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the API call originates, effectively locking the secret access to that specific Interface VPC Endpoint and blocking all other network paths, including the internet, NAT gateways, or other endpoints. On the SAA-C03 exam, this tests your understanding of combining resource-based policies with VPC endpoint conditions to enforce network-level security for Secrets Manager—a common scenario for microservices in private subnets. A frequent trap is confusing `aws:SourceVpce` with `aws:SourceVpc`; the former checks the specific endpoint ID, while the latter checks the VPC ID, which is less restrictive. Memory tip: "SourceVpce" is like a "VIP pass" that only lets the secret through one specific door.
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 microservice runs in private subnets and must read exactly one AWS Secrets Manager secret using its IAM task role: arn:aws:secretsmanager:us-east-1:111122223333:secret:prod/db-pass-AbCdEf Security requires that every Secrets Manager API call comes only through a specific Interface VPC Endpoint (vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h), and must not be reachable over any other network path. Which IAM policy change best enforces this requirement?
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
In the task role policy statement for secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on the secret ARN, add a condition that allows the action only when aws:SourceVpce equals vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h.
Option A is correct because the condition `aws:SourceVpce` in the IAM policy restricts the `secretsmanager:GetSecretValue` API call to originate only from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h). This ensures that the secret can only be accessed via that specific Interface Endpoint, blocking any other network path (e.g., internet, NAT gateway, or other VPC endpoints). The task role is attached to the microservice, so the policy directly enforces the security requirement at the API level.
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.
- ✓
In the task role policy statement for secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on the secret ARN, add a condition that allows the action only when aws:SourceVpce equals vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h.
Why this is correct
For Interface VPC endpoints, aws:SourceVpce can be used as a condition key so KMS/Secrets Manager API authorization succeeds only when the request originates from the specified endpoint. Restricting the IAM permission to aws:SourceVpce=vpce-... directly matches the requirement that calls must not traverse other network paths (e.g., via NAT/egress).
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 a condition that allows secretsmanager:GetSecretValue only when aws:SourceIp is within 10.0.0.0/8.
Why it's wrong here
Source IP conditions cannot reliably prove that the traffic used the required Interface VPC endpoint. Requests can be translated by NAT gateways, proxies, or load balancers, and the observed Source IP may not uniquely identify the endpoint path.
- ✗
Require TLS by adding a condition on aws:SecureTransport for the Secrets Manager permission.
- ✗
Add a KMS condition using kms:ViaService=secretsmanager.us-east-1.amazonaws.com instead of restricting Secrets Manager directly.
Why it's wrong here
The kms:ViaService condition affects whether a key can be used via a particular AWS service context, but the question’s requirement is about the network path to the Secrets Manager API. This does not constrain the request to originate from the specified Interface VPC endpoint.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `aws:SourceVpce` with `aws:SourceIp` or `aws:SourceVpc`, thinking any network-level condition will work, but only `aws:SourceVpce` uniquely identifies the specific Interface VPC Endpoint required for this strict enforcement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SourceVpce` condition key works by matching the VPC Endpoint ID from which the request is made, which is available in the request context when the API call traverses an Interface VPC Endpoint. Under the hood, the VPC Endpoint uses AWS PrivateLink to route traffic directly to the Secrets Manager service without traversing the internet, and the condition ensures that only that specific endpoint's traffic is allowed. In a real-world scenario, if multiple VPC Endpoints exist for Secrets Manager in different VPCs, this condition prevents accidental access from the wrong endpoint, enforcing strict network segmentation.
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 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.
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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: In the task role policy statement for secretsmanager:GetSecretValue on the secret ARN, add a condition that allows the action only when aws:SourceVpce equals vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h. — Option A is correct because the condition `aws:SourceVpce` in the IAM policy restricts the `secretsmanager:GetSecretValue` API call to originate only from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h). This ensures that the secret can only be accessed via that specific Interface Endpoint, blocking any other network path (e.g., internet, NAT gateway, or other VPC endpoints). The task role is attached to the microservice, so the policy directly enforces the security requirement at the API level.
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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