- A
Deny PutObject unless s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals "aws:kms" and s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals the required CMK ARN
This enforces the encryption choice at upload time by validating the request headers that specify SSE-KMS and the exact KMS key ID/ARN. Using a Deny condition ensures uploads that do not include the correct SSE-KMS headers (for example, unencrypted uploads or uploads using a different KMS key) are rejected immediately.
- B
Allow PutObject only when aws:SecureTransport is true; encryption is then guaranteed automatically
Why wrong: aws:SecureTransport only controls that the request uses HTTPS (TLS in transit). It does not ensure server-side encryption at rest in S3 or that SSE-KMS with the mandated CMK is used.
- C
Deny PutObject if the request includes Content-Type other than "application/octet-stream"
Why wrong: Content-Type is an application/content metadata header and has no direct relationship to whether S3 encrypts the object with SSE-KMS or which KMS key is used.
- D
Deny PutObject when the caller’s role is not allowed to kms:Decrypt in their IAM policy
Why wrong: kms:Decrypt permissions relate to decrypting objects later (for example, after retrieval or during operations that require decryption). They do not control whether S3 accepts the PutObject request using the required SSE-KMS configuration and CMK at upload time.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use a Deny effect with both the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption condition key set to "aws:kms" and the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id condition key set to the specific customer-managed KMS key ARN. This approach is correct because a Deny statement explicitly blocks any PutObject request that fails to include both the required encryption header and the exact KMS key identifier, making it far more secure than an Allow-based approach that could be bypassed by a conflicting Allow. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of S3 bucket policy condition keys for enforcing SSE-KMS encryption, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly use only the encryption type condition without also specifying the key ID, leaving the bucket open to objects encrypted with a different KMS key. A reliable memory tip is "Deny the wrong key, not just the wrong type"—always pair the encryption type condition with the key ARN condition to lock down the specific customer-managed key.
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 security team requires that every object uploaded to s3://secure-bucket/uploads/ must be encrypted using SSE-KMS with a specific customer-managed KMS key. Which S3 bucket policy condition approach best enforces this requirement for PutObject requests?
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
Deny PutObject unless s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals "aws:kms" and s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals the required CMK ARN
Option A is correct because it uses a Deny effect with the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption condition key set to 'aws:kms' and the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id condition key set to the specific customer-managed KMS key ARN. This ensures that any PutObject request that does not include both the required encryption header and the exact KMS key identifier is denied, enforcing the encryption requirement at the bucket policy level.
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.
- ✓
Deny PutObject unless s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals "aws:kms" and s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals the required CMK ARN
Why this is correct
This enforces the encryption choice at upload time by validating the request headers that specify SSE-KMS and the exact KMS key ID/ARN. Using a Deny condition ensures uploads that do not include the correct SSE-KMS headers (for example, unencrypted uploads or uploads using a different KMS key) are rejected immediately.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow PutObject only when aws:SecureTransport is true; encryption is then guaranteed automatically
- ✗
Deny PutObject if the request includes Content-Type other than "application/octet-stream"
Why it's wrong here
Content-Type is an application/content metadata header and has no direct relationship to whether S3 encrypts the object with SSE-KMS or which KMS key is used.
- ✗
Deny PutObject when the caller’s role is not allowed to kms:Decrypt in their IAM policy
Why it's wrong here
kms:Decrypt permissions relate to decrypting objects later (for example, after retrieval or during operations that require decryption). They do not control whether S3 accepts the PutObject request using the required SSE-KMS configuration and CMK at upload time.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption in transit (aws:SecureTransport) with encryption at rest (SSE-KMS), or they mistakenly think that checking the caller's KMS permissions in the bucket policy is sufficient, when in fact the policy must inspect the request headers to enforce the encryption requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 evaluates bucket policy conditions before processing the PutObject request; the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id condition key matches the value of the x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id header, which must be the full ARN of the CMK. A subtle behavior is that if the header is omitted entirely, the Deny will trigger because the condition key evaluates to false, effectively blocking unencrypted uploads. In a real-world scenario, this policy is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI-DSS or HIPAA, where data must be encrypted with a key under the organization's control.
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.
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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: Deny PutObject unless s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals "aws:kms" and s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals the required CMK ARN — Option A is correct because it uses a Deny effect with the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption condition key set to 'aws:kms' and the s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id condition key set to the specific customer-managed KMS key ARN. This ensures that any PutObject request that does not include both the required encryption header and the exact KMS key identifier is denied, enforcing the encryption requirement at the bucket policy level.
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.
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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.
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