- A
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
A bucket policy can use the request context key aws:sourceVpce to distinguish requests that came through a particular VPC endpoint. Using a Deny with a condition such as StringNotEquals on aws:sourceVpce blocks PutObject unless the request reached S3 via that specific Gateway Endpoint. Requests that arrive by other network paths will not match the required endpoint ID and will be denied.
- B
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement that blocks requests unless the principal uses MFA.
Why wrong: MFA affects authentication for interactive identity flows. It does not provide any guarantee about the network path or whether the request traversed a specific VPC endpoint, so it cannot enforce the required endpoint-level routing constraint.
- C
Enable Block Public Access and remove the public bucket policy statement.
Why wrong: Block Public Access prevents public exposure of the bucket, but it does not restrict access to a specific VPC endpoint. Private requests from other network locations (that can still reach S3 with valid credentials) would remain possible.
- D
Attach an IAM policy to the workload role that allows s3:PutObject only to the bucket ARN.
Why wrong: Least-privilege IAM limits which actions and resources are permitted, but IAM cannot constrain the origin network path (for example, forcing traffic to traverse vpce-0abc123example). A valid principal could still call S3 from anywhere that has network reachability and credentials.
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 company’s private workload in a VPC uploads objects to an S3 bucket. Security requires that S3 requests are allowed only when they traverse a specific S3 Gateway VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). Which change best enforces this restriction at the S3 bucket level?
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
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
Option A is correct because it uses an S3 bucket policy with a Deny statement that explicitly denies any s3:PutObject request unless the request originates from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). The aws:sourceVpce condition key evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the request is made, ensuring that only traffic through that specific Gateway VPC Endpoint is allowed. This enforces the security requirement at the bucket level, overriding any other policies that might allow access from other sources.
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.
- ✓
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example.
Why this is correct
A bucket policy can use the request context key aws:sourceVpce to distinguish requests that came through a particular VPC endpoint. Using a Deny with a condition such as StringNotEquals on aws:sourceVpce blocks PutObject unless the request reached S3 via that specific Gateway Endpoint. Requests that arrive by other network paths will not match the required endpoint ID and will be denied.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement that blocks requests unless the principal uses MFA.
Why it's wrong here
MFA affects authentication for interactive identity flows. It does not provide any guarantee about the network path or whether the request traversed a specific VPC endpoint, so it cannot enforce the required endpoint-level routing constraint.
- ✗
Enable Block Public Access and remove the public bucket policy statement.
Why it's wrong here
Block Public Access prevents public exposure of the bucket, but it does not restrict access to a specific VPC endpoint. Private requests from other network locations (that can still reach S3 with valid credentials) would remain possible.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to the workload role that allows s3:PutObject only to the bucket ARN.
Why it's wrong here
Least-privilege IAM limits which actions and resources are permitted, but IAM cannot constrain the origin network path (for example, forcing traffic to traverse vpce-0abc123example). A valid principal could still call S3 from anywhere that has network reachability and credentials.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse IAM policies (which control who can act) with bucket policies (which control how and from where access is allowed), leading them to choose an IAM-based solution (Option D) that does not enforce the network-level restriction required by the scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The aws:sourceVpce condition key works by checking the VPC Endpoint ID present in the request context, which is only populated when the request traverses a VPC Endpoint. This condition is evaluated at the S3 bucket policy level, making it a powerful tool for enforcing network-based access control. In practice, this is often used alongside VPC Endpoint policies to create a defense-in-depth strategy, ensuring that even if an IAM role has broad permissions, the network path is restricted.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Design Secure Architectures — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design Secure Architectures practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAA-C03 questions
1,040 questions across all exam domains
- →
SAA-C03 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAA-C03 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAA-C03 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Secure Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Secure Architectures.
Design Resilient Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Resilient Architectures.
Design High-Performing Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design High-Performing Architectures.
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Cost-Optimized Architectures.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAA-C03 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Add an S3 bucket policy Deny statement for s3:PutObject when aws:sourceVpce is not equal to vpce-0abc123example. — Option A is correct because it uses an S3 bucket policy with a Deny statement that explicitly denies any s3:PutObject request unless the request originates from the specified VPC Endpoint (vpce-0abc123example). The aws:sourceVpce condition key evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the request is made, ensuring that only traffic through that specific Gateway VPC Endpoint is allowed. This enforces the security requirement at the bucket level, overriding any other policies that might allow access from other sources.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SAA-C03 practice questions
- A content publishing system uses Lambda functions that call an unreliable third-party API. Failed events must be retaine…
- A startup runs two EC2-based workloads in the same AWS Region. Its customer-facing API is always on, and its nightly vid…
- A warehouse integration service must use shared file storage across Linux EC2 instances in multiple Availability Zones.…
- A team runs a stateless web app on Amazon EC2 behind an Application Load Balancer. During traffic spikes, new EC2 instan…
- A service in private subnets downloads product images from Amazon S3 and stores job state in DynamoDB. A NAT Gateway is…
- A static site is hosted in Amazon S3 and delivered by CloudFront. After a frontend release, the same JavaScript bundles…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SAA-C03 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAA-C03 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.