- A
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
This scopes object writes to only the uploads/ prefix (resource-level restriction for s3:PutObject) and scopes object listing to only that same prefix by restricting the ListBucket request via the s3:prefix condition key (bucket-level authorization for s3:ListBucket).
- B
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts without any prefix condition.
Why wrong: This permits writes to any object path in the bucket and allows listing of all prefixes/keys because there is no condition restricting the ListBucket results to uploads/. That is broader than the uploads-only requirement.
- C
Allow s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* so the pipeline can confirm artifacts exist.
Why wrong: s3:GetObject grants read access to objects; it does not grant permission to upload artifacts. The core requirement includes uploading to uploads/.
- D
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and also allow s3:DeleteObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*.
Why wrong: DeleteObject is not required to verify an upload succeeded and increases blast radius by allowing the principal to remove uploaded artifacts. Least privilege favors granting only the minimum actions necessary (PutObject and scoped ListBucket).
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 CI pipeline needs to upload build artifacts only to s3://ci-artifacts/uploads/*. You also want the pipeline to list only objects under uploads/ to verify that the upload succeeded. Which IAM policy approach is the best fit for least privilege?
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.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required permissions: s3:PutObject on the specific uploads/ path for uploading artifacts, and s3:ListBucket on the bucket with a condition restricting the s3:prefix to uploads/ to list only objects under that prefix. This follows the least privilege principle by scoping both actions to the exact resources needed.
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.
- ✓
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.
Why this is correct
This scopes object writes to only the uploads/ prefix (resource-level restriction for s3:PutObject) and scopes object listing to only that same prefix by restricting the ListBucket request via the s3:prefix condition key (bucket-level authorization for s3:ListBucket).
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts without any prefix condition.
Why it's wrong here
This permits writes to any object path in the bucket and allows listing of all prefixes/keys because there is no condition restricting the ListBucket results to uploads/. That is broader than the uploads-only requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the requirement was to allow the pipeline to upload artifacts to any location under the bucket and list all objects (e.g., for general bucket management). For example, a CI pipeline that needs to upload build outputs to various folders and verify the entire bucket contents.
- ✗
Allow s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* so the pipeline can confirm artifacts exist.
Why it's wrong here
s3:GetObject grants read access to objects; it does not grant permission to upload artifacts. The core requirement includes uploading to uploads/.
When this WOULD be correct
A scenario where the pipeline needs to download or read the content of uploaded artifacts (e.g., for validation or processing) would require s3:GetObject on the upload path.
- ✗
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and also allow s3:DeleteObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*.
Why it's wrong here
DeleteObject is not required to verify an upload succeeded and increases blast radius by allowing the principal to remove uploaded artifacts. Least privilege favors granting only the minimum actions necessary (PutObject and scoped ListBucket).
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the pipeline also needed to delete old or failed uploads from the uploads/ prefix to manage storage or clean up after a failed build.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SAA-C03 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This scopes object writes to only the uploads/ prefix (resource-level restriction for s3:PutObject) and scopes object listing to only that same prefix by restricting the ListBucket request via the s3:prefix condition key (bucket-level authorization for s3:ListBucket).
✗Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts without any prefix condition.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option B allows s3:PutObject on all objects under ci-artifacts (not just uploads/), violating the least privilege requirement to restrict uploads to uploads/*. Additionally, it grants s3:ListBucket without a prefix condition, allowing listing of all objects in the bucket, which is broader than needed.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the requirement was to allow the pipeline to upload artifacts to any location under the bucket and list all objects (e.g., for general bucket management). For example, a CI pipeline that needs to upload build outputs to various folders and verify the entire bucket contents.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that allowing PutObject on the entire bucket is simpler and still meets the upload requirement, overlooking the need to restrict to uploads/. They may also underestimate the risk of granting ListBucket without a prefix condition.
✗Allow s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* so the pipeline can confirm artifacts exist.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The pipeline needs to upload artifacts (PutObject) and list objects (ListBucket) to verify uploads, not download them. GetObject is for reading object content, which is not required for verification.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A scenario where the pipeline needs to download or read the content of uploaded artifacts (e.g., for validation or processing) would require s3:GetObject on the upload path.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'verifying upload succeeded' with needing to read the object, or think that listing requires GetObject permission.
✗Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and also allow s3:DeleteObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option D includes s3:DeleteObject, which is not required for the pipeline's tasks of uploading and listing artifacts. Granting unnecessary permissions violates the principle of least privilege.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the pipeline also needed to delete old or failed uploads from the uploads/ prefix to manage storage or clean up after a failed build.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that including DeleteObject is harmless or might be needed for cleanup, overlooking that the question explicitly requires only upload and list capabilities.
Analysis generated from the official SAA-C03blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse s3:GetObject with s3:ListBucket for verifying uploads, or they forget to restrict the s3:prefix condition on ListBucket, leading to overly permissive policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The s3:ListBucket action operates at the bucket level and requires a condition key like s3:prefix to restrict the list to a specific path; without it, the policy would allow listing all objects in the bucket. The s3:PutObject action is a resource-level permission that can be scoped to a specific prefix using an ARN pattern like arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/*. In practice, using a condition for s3:prefix on ListBucket is essential for least privilege when the pipeline only needs to verify objects under a specific folder, as it prevents exposure of other bucket contents.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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: Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts/uploads/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::ci-artifacts with a condition that restricts s3:prefix to uploads/. — Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required permissions: s3:PutObject on the specific uploads/ path for uploading artifacts, and s3:ListBucket on the bucket with a condition restricting the s3:prefix to uploads/ to list only objects under that prefix. This follows the least privilege principle by scoping both actions to the exact resources needed.
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", "least". 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
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