The answer is the missing `s3:PutObject` permission. AWS DMS requires this action to write data files to an S3 bucket during a migration task; without it, the service can read metadata and list objects but cannot create or overwrite objects, resulting in an access denied error. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how IAM policies intersect with service-specific permissions—a common trap is confusing read permissions (like `s3:GetObject`) with write permissions, or assuming `dms:StartReplicationTask` covers S3 access. Remember that DMS acts as a client to S3, so the role must explicitly grant `s3:PutObject` for any write operation. A useful memory tip: “Put to write, Get to read—if DMS fails to write, PutObject is what you need.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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.
An IAM policy is attached to a role used by AWS DMS for a database migration from an RDS MySQL instance to an S3 bucket. The migration fails with an access denied error when writing to S3. Which missing permission is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
s3:PutObject
The policy allows s3:GetObject and s3:ListBucket, but not s3:PutObject, which is required for writing data to S3. The error is about writing, not reading. dms:StartReplicationTask is already allowed. rds:DescribeDBInstances is for reading RDS metadata. kms:Decrypt is only needed for encrypted buckets.
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.
✗
kms:Decrypt
Why it's wrong here
kms:Decrypt is needed only if the S3 bucket is encrypted with KMS, but the error is access denied on S3, not KMS.
✗
rds:DescribeDBInstances
Why it's wrong here
This action is for reading RDS instance metadata, not writing to S3.
✗
dms:StartReplicationTask
Why it's wrong here
This action is already allowed in the policy.
✓
s3:PutObject
Why this is correct
DMS needs s3:PutObject to write data to the S3 bucket.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: s3:PutObject — The policy allows s3:GetObject and s3:ListBucket, but not s3:PutObject, which is required for writing data to S3. The error is about writing, not reading. dms:StartReplicationTask is already allowed. rds:DescribeDBInstances is for reading RDS metadata. kms:Decrypt is only needed for encrypted buckets.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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