Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Developer workflow output: $ aws iam create-role --role-name dev-lambda-role \ --assume-role-policy-document file://trust-lambda.json $ aws iam attach-role-policy --role-name dev-lambda-role \ --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/AdministratorAccess Security requirement: - Developers may create roles for Lambda functions. - New roles must be limited to approved read/write access to a small set of AWS services. - Security wants a guardrail that cannot be bypassed by attaching a broader policy later.
Based on the exhibit, what should the security team implement so developers can create AWS Lambda execution roles, but no developer-created role can ever exceed the approved permission set?
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
Place the developers in an IAM group with a deny-only managed policy attached.
A group policy can help with access management, but it does not cap the maximum permissions a created role can receive.
B
Best answer
Require a permissions boundary on every developer-created role and set the boundary to the approved maximum permissions.
A permissions boundary limits the highest permissions a role can ever have, even if someone attaches broader policies later. This is the right guardrail when developers are allowed to create roles but must stay within a security-approved ceiling. It still lets them work independently while preventing privilege escalation through policy attachment.
C
Distractor review
Use an AWS Organizations SCP to grant only the approved Lambda permissions directly to the developer roles.
An SCP can restrict permissions, but it does not grant permissions to a role. The role still needs identity-based permissions.
D
Distractor review
Create the roles with inline policies only, because inline policies are always safer than managed policies.
Inline policies are not automatically safer. They can still contain excessive permissions and do not enforce a maximum boundary.
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: Require a permissions boundary on every developer-created role and set the boundary to the approved maximum permissions. — Permissions boundaries are designed for this exact control pattern. They let developers create and manage roles, while ensuring the effective permissions never exceed the approved ceiling defined by security. Even if a developer later attaches AdministratorAccess or another broad policy, the boundary still caps what the role can actually do. That makes it a strong least-privilege control for delegated role creation. Why others are wrong: Group policies only affect users or groups, not the final permissions ceiling of a role. SCPs restrict accounts and OUs, but they do not grant permissions to individual roles, so they cannot be the sole control here. Inline policies do not inherently prevent over-permissioning and are not a substitute for a permissions boundary.
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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