- A
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with no condition.
Why wrong: This is too permissive because PutObject is scoped to the entire bucket (arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/*), allowing uploads outside teamA/. It also allows ListBucket for the full bucket without any s3:prefix condition, so the pipeline could list other prefixes.
- B
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with a condition that requires s3:prefix equals 'teamA/'.
This scopes uploads to exactly the teamA/ object path by using the object ARN arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/*. For listing, it targets the bucket ARN (arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod) and restricts listing results to only the requested prefix using the s3:prefix condition key.
- C
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:GetBucketLocation on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/.
Why wrong: GetBucketLocation is not required to satisfy the listed controls (upload only to teamA/ and list only within teamA/). Additionally, scoping GetBucketLocation to a prefix is not the right control for restricting ListBucket results; the missing piece is the constrained s3:ListBucket permission with an s3:prefix condition.
- D
Allow s3:* on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListAllMyBuckets for easier auditing.
Why wrong: s3:* is broader than needed and can grant permissions such as DeleteObject or other read/write capabilities beyond what is required. ListAllMyBuckets is unrelated to preventing access to other prefixes within the target bucket and expands exposure outside the intended control boundary.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 in account A uploads build artifacts to an S3 bucket (arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod) under the prefix teamA/. The pipeline must not be able to list other prefixes, and it must only upload objects under teamA/. Which IAM policy design best enforces least privilege for this requirement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with a condition that requires s3:prefix equals 'teamA/'.
Option B is correct because it grants the minimal permissions required: s3:PutObject is scoped to the specific prefix teamA/*, preventing uploads to other prefixes, and s3:ListBucket is allowed only with a condition that restricts the s3:prefix to 'teamA/', ensuring the pipeline cannot list objects under other prefixes. This enforces least privilege by combining resource-level and condition-based access control.
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:::build-artifacts-prod/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with no condition.
Why it's wrong here
This is too permissive because PutObject is scoped to the entire bucket (arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/*), allowing uploads outside teamA/. It also allows ListBucket for the full bucket without any s3:prefix condition, so the pipeline could list other prefixes.
- ✓
Allow s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with a condition that requires s3:prefix equals 'teamA/'.
Why this is correct
This scopes uploads to exactly the teamA/ object path by using the object ARN arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/*. For listing, it targets the bucket ARN (arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod) and restricts listing results to only the requested prefix using the s3:prefix condition key.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "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:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:GetBucketLocation on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/.
Why it's wrong here
GetBucketLocation is not required to satisfy the listed controls (upload only to teamA/ and list only within teamA/). Additionally, scoping GetBucketLocation to a prefix is not the right control for restricting ListBucket results; the missing piece is the constrained s3:ListBucket permission with an s3:prefix condition.
- ✗
Allow s3:* on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListAllMyBuckets for easier auditing.
Why it's wrong here
s3:* is broader than needed and can grant permissions such as DeleteObject or other read/write capabilities beyond what is required. ListAllMyBuckets is unrelated to preventing access to other prefixes within the target bucket and expands exposure outside the intended control boundary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume that scoping the resource ARN to a prefix (e.g., arn:aws:s3:::bucket/prefix/*) alone is sufficient to restrict listing, but without a condition on s3:ListBucket, the ListBucket action still returns all objects in the bucket, bypassing the intended restriction.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The s3:ListBucket action with a condition key s3:prefix is evaluated at the bucket level; the condition restricts the list operation to only return objects whose key starts with the specified prefix, effectively implementing a virtual directory. Under the hood, S3 uses a flat key-value store, so prefix-based filtering is essential for access control without hierarchical folders, and the condition must exactly match the prefix used in the resource ARN for PutObject to maintain consistency.
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
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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:::build-artifacts-prod/teamA/* and allow s3:ListBucket on arn:aws:s3:::build-artifacts-prod with a condition that requires s3:prefix equals 'teamA/'. — Option B is correct because it grants the minimal permissions required: s3:PutObject is scoped to the specific prefix teamA/*, preventing uploads to other prefixes, and s3:ListBucket is allowed only with a condition that restricts the s3:prefix to 'teamA/', ensuring the pipeline cannot list objects under other prefixes. This enforces least privilege by combining resource-level and condition-based access control.
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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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