The correct answer is that the policy allows s3:GetObject on example-bucket only from the specified IP range. This is because the IAM policy uses a Condition block with the IpAddress condition key, which restricts the Allow effect to requests originating from the listed IP range; any request from outside that range is implicitly denied by default. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this pattern tests your understanding of how IAM policy evaluation logic works with conditional permissions, often appearing in scenarios where you must secure S3 buckets without using a bucket policy. A common trap is forgetting that an Allow with an IpAddress condition does not deny other IPs explicitly—it simply does not apply the Allow, so the default implicit deny takes effect. Memory tip: think of IpAddress as a “key to the door”—the Allow only works if the request has the right IP key, otherwise the door stays locked.
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 Solutions Architect is reviewing the IAM policy shown in the exhibit. The policy is attached to an IAM user. Which of the following is true about this policy?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy allows s3:GetObject on example-bucket only from the specified IP range.
Option A is correct because the IAM policy uses a `Condition` block with `IpAddress` to restrict the `s3:GetObject` action on `example-bucket` to requests originating from the specified IP range. The `Effect` is `Allow`, so the policy grants the `s3:GetObject` permission only when the source IP matches the condition, effectively limiting access to that range.
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.
✓
The policy allows s3:GetObject on example-bucket only from the specified IP range.
Why this is correct
The condition restricts access to the specified IP range.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The policy denies access if the source IP is not in the specified range.
Why it's wrong here
The policy allows access only from the specified IP, but does not explicitly deny other IPs; other policies could allow.
✗
The policy is invalid because the Resource is not specific enough.
Why it's wrong here
The resource is valid; it specifies all objects in example-bucket.
✗
The policy allows all S3 actions on all buckets.
Why it's wrong here
The policy only allows s3:GetObject on example-bucket.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse an `Allow` with a condition for an implicit `Deny`—they incorrectly assume the policy explicitly denies access from outside the IP range, when in fact it simply does not grant permission, and an explicit deny would require a separate `Deny` statement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, IAM policy evaluation uses an explicit deny model: if a request does not match the `Allow` condition, it is implicitly denied, but an explicit `Deny` statement overrides any `Allow`. The `IpAddress` condition key uses the source IP from the request context, and if the IP is outside the range, the `Allow` statement does not apply, resulting in implicit denial. In real-world scenarios, this pattern is commonly used to enforce corporate network access for sensitive S3 data while still allowing other S3 actions from anywhere via separate policies.
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 for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy allows s3:GetObject on example-bucket only from the specified IP range. — Option A is correct because the IAM policy uses a `Condition` block with `IpAddress` to restrict the `s3:GetObject` action on `example-bucket` to requests originating from the specified IP range. The `Effect` is `Allow`, so the policy grants the `s3:GetObject` permission only when the source IP matches the condition, effectively limiting access to that range.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 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.
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Question Discussion
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