Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Current S3 bucket policy:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": "*",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::reports-private/*"
}
]
}
CloudFront distribution:
- Origin: s3://reports-private
- Viewer protocol policy: Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
- No origin access identity or origin access control configured
Security requirement:
- Clients must use CloudFront signed URLs or signed cookies
- S3 object URLs must not be directly accessibleBased on the exhibit, users must access private PDF reports only through CloudFront. Direct requests to the S3 object URL must fail, and the bucket should not be publicly readable. Which solution is the best fit?
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
Best answer
Enable CloudFront Origin Access Control for the distribution and update the bucket policy to allow only the CloudFront distribution principal with its SourceArn.
Origin Access Control is the modern pattern for restricting S3 origins to CloudFront. The bucket policy can then permit only the specific distribution, preventing direct S3 access while keeping the content private. Signed URLs or cookies can still be used at the viewer layer for authorization.
B
Distractor review
Keep the bucket public and require signed URLs at CloudFront, because signed URLs automatically block all direct S3 requests.
Signed URLs protect access through CloudFront, but they do not make the S3 bucket private. If the bucket policy is public, anyone who knows the S3 URL can still bypass CloudFront. The origin itself must be locked down.
C
Distractor review
Add an S3 access point and allow the CloudFront distribution to use it without changing the bucket policy.
An access point does not automatically solve the direct-public-access problem. The origin still needs a resource policy that restricts who can read the objects, and the CloudFront distribution must be explicitly authorized to use that origin path.
D
Distractor review
Attach AWS WAF to the distribution and block requests that do not include a signed cookie.
WAF can help with edge filtering, but it does not prevent direct S3 object URL access. The origin must be private through CloudFront authorization, otherwise the bucket remains reachable outside CloudFront regardless of WAF rules.
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: Enable CloudFront Origin Access Control for the distribution and update the bucket policy to allow only the CloudFront distribution principal with its SourceArn. — The correct pattern is CloudFront Origin Access Control with a restrictive S3 bucket policy. OAC lets CloudFront sign origin requests to S3, and the bucket policy can restrict access to the specific distribution using its SourceArn. That removes public access at the S3 layer while preserving private content delivery through CloudFront and any viewer-level signed URL or cookie checks. Signed URLs alone do not secure the S3 origin. An S3 access point still needs explicit authorization and does not automatically block direct access to the bucket. WAF operates at the edge and cannot protect the origin if S3 is publicly readable. The key security control is to make the origin private to CloudFront.
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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