- A
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Correct: Grants s3:GetObject on the bucket objects, allowing the EC2 instance to read data from S3 as required.
- B
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:*"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Why wrong: Incorrect: s3:* includes all S3 actions, which is too broad and violates least-privilege.
- C
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["logs:CreateLogStream", "logs:PutLogEvents"], "Resource": "arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:my-log-group:*"}
Correct: Grants logs:CreateLogStream and logs:PutLogEvents on the specific log group, allowing log writing as required.
- D
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["logs:PutLogEvents"], "Resource": "*"}
Why wrong: Incorrect: Uses a wildcard resource for logs, which is not scoped to the specific log group and violates least-privilege.
- E
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Why wrong: Incorrect: Grants s3:PutObject on the bucket, but the stem only requires reading from S3; this permission is unnecessary and violates least-privilege.
SAP-C02 Least-privilege permissions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing 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. A key principle to apply: least-privilege permissions. 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 company is deploying a new application on AWS and wants to implement a least-privilege IAM policy for an EC2 instance that needs to read from an S3 bucket (my-bucket) and write logs to CloudWatch Logs. Which THREE statements should be included in the IAM policy? (Choose three.)
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
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
The correct answers are A and C. Option A grants s3:GetObject on the S3 bucket objects, allowing the EC2 instance to read data from the bucket. Option C grants the necessary permissions to create log streams and put log events to a specific CloudWatch Logs log group, enabling logging. These two statements adhere to least-privilege by scoping to the exact actions and resources needed. Option E (s3:PutObject) is not required because the stem only specifies reading from S3; including it would violate the least-privilege principle. Options B and D are incorrect because B uses a wildcard action (s3:*) and D uses a wildcard resource, both of which are too broad and not scoped.
Key principle: Least-privilege permissions
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Why this is correct
Correct: Grants s3:GetObject on the bucket objects, allowing the EC2 instance to read data from S3 as required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Least-privilege permissions
- ✗
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:*"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: s3:* includes all S3 actions, which is too broad and violates least-privilege.
- ✓
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["logs:CreateLogStream", "logs:PutLogEvents"], "Resource": "arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:my-log-group:*"}
Why this is correct
Correct: Grants logs:CreateLogStream and logs:PutLogEvents on the specific log group, allowing log writing as required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Least-privilege permissions
- ✗
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["logs:PutLogEvents"], "Resource": "*"}
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Uses a wildcard resource for logs, which is not scoped to the specific log group and violates least-privilege.
- ✗
{"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Grants s3:PutObject on the bucket, but the stem only requires reading from S3; this permission is unnecessary and violates least-privilege.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates often include unnecessary permissions (like s3:PutObject) beyond what the stem explicitly requires, failing the least-privilege requirement. Always scope permissions to only the actions and resources stated.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
For CloudWatch Logs, the PutLogEvents API requires that the log stream already exists; thus, the policy must include logs:CreateLogStream to create the stream if it does not exist, or the instance must have permissions to create it. The resource ARN for logs should specify the log group and a wildcard for streams (e.g., 'arn:aws:logs:region:account:log-group:my-log-group:*') to restrict access to that specific log group. Additionally, S3 GetObject requests use the HTTP GET method, and the bucket policy must also allow the s3:GetObject action for the IAM role to succeed.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least-privilege permissions
- S3 GetObject
- CloudWatch Logs permissions
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
Least-privilege permissions
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review least-privilege permissions, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Least-privilege permissions.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: {"Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"} — The correct answers are A and C. Option A grants s3:GetObject on the S3 bucket objects, allowing the EC2 instance to read data from the bucket. Option C grants the necessary permissions to create log streams and put log events to a specific CloudWatch Logs log group, enabling logging. These two statements adhere to least-privilege by scoping to the exact actions and resources needed. Option E (s3:PutObject) is not required because the stem only specifies reading from S3; including it would violate the least-privilege principle. Options B and D are incorrect because B uses a wildcard action (s3:*) and D uses a wildcard resource, both of which are too broad and not scoped.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review least-privilege permissions, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Least-privilege permissions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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