- A
Add a Deny statement for all S3 actions on the bucket and its objects when aws:SecureTransport is false, and add a Deny statement for s3:PutObject when the request does not specify server-side encryption with AES256 (s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption = "AES256").
This enforces HTTPS for all S3 requests by denying any non-TLS access and enforces encryption at rest by denying uploads that do not request SSE-S3. Because the controls are in the bucket policy, compliance does not depend on application behavior.
- B
Use S3 website hosting to redirect users to HTTPS and rely on bucket default encryption for all uploads.
Why wrong: Website redirects do not enforce HTTPS for SDK or API calls, and default encryption does not ensure requests are rejected when the application omits encryption settings. This is not a policy-based enforcement approach.
- C
Add a Deny statement for s3:GetObject when aws:SecureTransport is false, and enable default encryption on the bucket.
Why wrong: This only blocks non-TLS reads, not non-TLS writes or other S3 actions. It also relies on default encryption rather than explicitly enforcing encrypted uploads through policy conditions.
- D
Allow only IAM principals from your account to access the bucket and require clients to configure HTTPS in their applications.
Why wrong: Restricting principals does not enforce TLS or encryption at rest. Requiring application-side configuration does not satisfy the requirement for bucket-level enforcement.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add a Deny statement for all S3 actions when `aws:SecureTransport` is false, and a separate Deny for `s3:PutObject` when the request lacks the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header set to `AES256`. This policy enforces both HTTPS and encryption at rest at the bucket level, bypassing any reliance on application code compliance. The `aws:SecureTransport` condition key blocks non-HTTPS requests, while the second Deny ensures every uploaded object is encrypted with SSE-S3, meeting the requirement for server-side encryption. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your ability to combine explicit Deny statements with condition keys for both encryption in transit and at rest—a common trap is using an Allow statement instead, which would be overridden by a default implicit Deny. Remember that Deny always wins, so you must explicitly block non-compliant requests. A useful memory tip: think "Double Deny for Double Security"—one Deny for the transport layer, one for the storage layer.
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.
Your company requires that all requests to an S3 bucket use HTTPS and that all objects uploaded to the bucket are encrypted at rest. You manage the S3 bucket policy and want enforcement that does not rely on application code compliance.
Which bucket policy change best enforces both requirements?
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
Add a Deny statement for all S3 actions on the bucket and its objects when aws:SecureTransport is false, and add a Deny statement for s3:PutObject when the request does not specify server-side encryption with AES256 (s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption = "AES256").
Option A is correct because it uses a Deny statement with the `aws:SecureTransport` condition to block any request that does not use HTTPS, enforcing encryption in transit. It also adds a Deny statement for `s3:PutObject` when the request does not include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header set to `AES256`, ensuring that all uploaded objects are encrypted at rest with SSE-S3. This policy-based enforcement works regardless of application code, meeting the requirement for non-reliance on client-side compliance.
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 a Deny statement for all S3 actions on the bucket and its objects when aws:SecureTransport is false, and add a Deny statement for s3:PutObject when the request does not specify server-side encryption with AES256 (s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption = "AES256").
Why this is correct
This enforces HTTPS for all S3 requests by denying any non-TLS access and enforces encryption at rest by denying uploads that do not request SSE-S3. Because the controls are in the bucket policy, compliance does not depend on application behavior.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use S3 website hosting to redirect users to HTTPS and rely on bucket default encryption for all uploads.
Why it's wrong here
Website redirects do not enforce HTTPS for SDK or API calls, and default encryption does not ensure requests are rejected when the application omits encryption settings. This is not a policy-based enforcement approach.
- ✗
Add a Deny statement for s3:GetObject when aws:SecureTransport is false, and enable default encryption on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
This only blocks non-TLS reads, not non-TLS writes or other S3 actions. It also relies on default encryption rather than explicitly enforcing encrypted uploads through policy conditions.
- ✗
Allow only IAM principals from your account to access the bucket and require clients to configure HTTPS in their applications.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse default encryption with policy-based enforcement, assuming that enabling default encryption on the bucket alone guarantees all objects are encrypted at rest, but it does not prevent clients from overriding it with unencrypted uploads via the request header.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SecureTransport` condition key evaluates the `True` or `False` value of the TLS/SSL connection; when set to `false`, it indicates HTTP. The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` condition key checks the request header; if the header is missing or set to a value other than `AES256`, the Deny statement blocks the upload. A subtle behavior is that default bucket encryption does not prevent clients from uploading unencrypted objects if they explicitly set `x-amz-server-side-encryption` to a different value or omit the header—only a bucket policy Deny can enforce this unconditionally.
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: Add a Deny statement for all S3 actions on the bucket and its objects when aws:SecureTransport is false, and add a Deny statement for s3:PutObject when the request does not specify server-side encryption with AES256 (s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption = "AES256"). — Option A is correct because it uses a Deny statement with the `aws:SecureTransport` condition to block any request that does not use HTTPS, enforcing encryption in transit. It also adds a Deny statement for `s3:PutObject` when the request does not include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header set to `AES256`, ensuring that all uploaded objects are encrypted at rest with SSE-S3. This policy-based enforcement works regardless of application code, meeting the requirement for non-reliance on client-side compliance.
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
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