- A
Allow all principals to GetObject when aws:SecureTransport is true
Why wrong: Allow-only approaches can be bypassed if other policy statements (identity-based or bucket policies) allow non-TLS requests. To enforce TLS for everyone regardless of other allows, you need an explicit Deny for non-TLS traffic.
- B
Use a policy statement that explicitly Denies any action when aws:SecureTransport is false
A bucket policy statement with Effect = Deny and a condition aws:SecureTransport = false blocks non-HTTPS requests. Because explicit Deny overrides Allow during policy evaluation, this prevents access for any request that does not use TLS, even if other statements grant permissions.
- C
Deny requests only when the bucket name is not matched exactly in the request
Why wrong: Bucket-name matching controls which bucket is targeted, not whether the request is made over TLS. An attacker can still send non-TLS requests while specifying the correct bucket name.
- D
Require that the requester uses SSE-KMS and reject requests without SSE-KMS configuration
Why wrong: SSE-KMS controls encryption at rest (data stored in S3), not encryption in transit. A request can use non-TLS transport while still using SSE-KMS, so it does not meet the TLS requirement.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to use a bucket policy statement that explicitly Denies all S3 actions when `aws:SecureTransport` is false. This works because the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key evaluates whether the request was sent over TLS (HTTPS); by explicitly denying access when it is false, any HTTP request is immediately rejected, while HTTPS requests proceed normally. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of explicit deny logic versus implicit allow—a common trap is to mistakenly write an Allow statement that checks for true, which leaves the bucket open to HTTP by default. Remember that an explicit deny always overrides any allow, making it the most secure and reliable method to enforce HTTPS on S3. For a quick memory tip, think: “Deny the false to force the secure”—if `SecureTransport` is false, deny everything.
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.
You must ensure that all requests to an S3 bucket use TLS (HTTPS). Which S3 bucket policy approach best enforces this requirement for S3 access?
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.
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
Use a policy statement that explicitly Denies any action when aws:SecureTransport is false
Option B is correct because the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key evaluates whether the request was sent using TLS. By explicitly denying all S3 actions when `aws:SecureTransport` is false, any HTTP request is rejected, ensuring only HTTPS requests succeed. This approach uses an explicit deny, which overrides any allow, making it the most secure and reliable method to enforce TLS.
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 all principals to GetObject when aws:SecureTransport is true
Why it's wrong here
Allow-only approaches can be bypassed if other policy statements (identity-based or bucket policies) allow non-TLS requests. To enforce TLS for everyone regardless of other allows, you need an explicit Deny for non-TLS traffic.
- ✓
Use a policy statement that explicitly Denies any action when aws:SecureTransport is false
Why this is correct
A bucket policy statement with Effect = Deny and a condition aws:SecureTransport = false blocks non-HTTPS requests. Because explicit Deny overrides Allow during policy evaluation, this prevents access for any request that does not use TLS, even if other statements grant permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deny requests only when the bucket name is not matched exactly in the request
Why it's wrong here
Bucket-name matching controls which bucket is targeted, not whether the request is made over TLS. An attacker can still send non-TLS requests while specifying the correct bucket name.
- ✗
Require that the requester uses SSE-KMS and reject requests without SSE-KMS configuration
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse encryption in transit (TLS/HTTPS) with encryption at rest (SSE-KMS or SSE-S3), leading them to select Option D, which does not address the transport security requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SecureTransport` condition key checks the `TLSVersion` or the use of HTTPS at the transport layer. Under the hood, S3 evaluates the policy before processing the request; if the condition fails, the request is denied with an AccessDenied error. In real-world scenarios, this policy is often combined with a bucket policy that also blocks public access to prevent accidental exposure, ensuring compliance with security standards like PCI DSS or HIPAA.
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.
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: Use a policy statement that explicitly Denies any action when aws:SecureTransport is false — Option B is correct because the `aws:SecureTransport` condition key evaluates whether the request was sent using TLS. By explicitly denying all S3 actions when `aws:SecureTransport` is false, any HTTP request is rejected, ensuring only HTTPS requests succeed. This approach uses an explicit deny, which overrides any allow, making it the most secure and reliable method to enforce TLS.
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". 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.
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 →
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.