Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Application log excerpt: 2026-04-11T09:14:22Z ERROR S3 GetObject failed: AccessDenied 2026-04-11T09:14:22Z ERROR KMS Decrypt failed for key arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:111122223333:key/abcd-1234 Current setup: - S3 bucket default encryption: SSE-KMS - EC2 application role: AppServerRole - Bucket policy allows s3:GetObject for AppServerRole - KMS key policy currently allows only the account root principal - No direct KMS permissions are attached to AppServerRole
Based on the exhibit, what is the most appropriate change to restore application access while keeping encryption at rest with customer-managed KMS controls?
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
Change the bucket to SSE-S3 so the application no longer depends on KMS permissions.
This would remove KMS from the path, but it also removes customer-managed key control, which the requirement explicitly wants to keep.
B
Best answer
Update the KMS key policy or add a grant so AppServerRole can use the key for decrypt and data key operations.
For SSE-KMS objects, the caller needs permission to use the KMS key as well as S3 permissions. The role already has S3 access, but KMS is denying Decrypt because the key policy does not allow the role. Adding the role through the key policy or a grant, together with the needed KMS actions, resolves the failure while preserving customer-managed encryption.
C
Distractor review
Move the EC2 instance into the same Availability Zone as the S3 bucket to reduce encryption errors.
S3 is a regional service and does not depend on the instance being in a specific Availability Zone for KMS access.
D
Distractor review
Attach AmazonS3FullAccess to the application role so S3 can bypass KMS authorization.
S3 permissions do not bypass KMS authorization for SSE-KMS objects. The decrypt call is still evaluated by KMS.
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: Update the KMS key policy or add a grant so AppServerRole can use the key for decrypt and data key operations. — When S3 uses SSE-KMS, access requires both an S3 permission path and permission to use the KMS key. In the exhibit, S3 allows the role, but KMS denies Decrypt because the key policy is too restrictive. The proper fix is to allow AppServerRole through the key policy or a KMS grant, and ensure the role has the needed KMS actions. That preserves customer-managed encryption while restoring access. Why others are wrong: Switching to SSE-S3 removes the KMS dependency, but that changes the security model and gives up customer-managed key control. Availability Zone placement is irrelevant because KMS and S3 authorization are not AZ-scoped. AmazonS3FullAccess does not override KMS authorization, so it will not fix a KMS AccessDenied error for SSE-KMS objects.
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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