Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
{
"current_state": {
"bucket_public_access_block": true,
"bucket_policy": "Allows s3:GetObject to Principal * for debugging",
"cloudfront_distribution": "d123example.cloudfront.net",
"direct_s3_test": "https://secure-pdfs-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/manuals/q4.pdf returns 200"
}
}Based on the exhibit, a company stores sensitive PDFs in S3 and serves them through CloudFront. Direct requests to the S3 object URL must fail, but CloudFront should still be able to fetch the files securely. Which solution best satisfies the requirement?
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
Leave the bucket public but require CloudFront signed cookies for all users.
Signed cookies protect CloudFront access, but they do not stop direct S3 URL access if the bucket is public.
B
Distractor review
Use an S3 access point and give it a public policy so CloudFront can reach the objects.
A public access point does not satisfy the requirement to block direct access to the objects.
C
Best answer
Configure CloudFront Origin Access Control for the S3 origin and update the bucket policy to allow only that distribution.
OAC lets CloudFront sign origin requests to S3, while the bucket policy can deny all other principals and block direct URL access.
D
Distractor review
Use S3 object ACLs to grant read access only to users behind CloudFront.
S3 ACLs cannot identify CloudFront as a protected origin consumer in the secure, modern way required here.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
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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?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure CloudFront Origin Access Control for the S3 origin and update the bucket policy to allow only that distribution. — The direct S3 test returning HTTP 200 proves the bucket is still reachable directly, so access must be restricted at the origin. CloudFront Origin Access Control is the current best practice because it lets CloudFront authenticate to S3 using SigV4. A bucket policy can then allow only the specific distribution ARN, so requests made outside CloudFront fail even if someone knows the S3 object URL. Signed cookies control viewer access to CloudFront, not origin access to S3. A public access point still exposes the content more broadly than required. S3 ACLs are not the right mechanism for restricting a CloudFront origin and are harder to manage securely than an OAC plus bucket policy.
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.
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