SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"ec2:DescribeInstances",
"ec2:DescribeVolumes"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"ec2:CreateSnapshot",
"ec2:CreateTags"
],
"Resource": "arn:aws:ec2:us-west-2::snapshot/*"
}
]
}
```Refer to the exhibit. A company uses this IAM policy to allow an automation script to manage Amazon EBS snapshots. The script runs on an EC2 instance with this attached IAM role. The script is failing when trying to create a snapshot from a volume and tag it. The error message indicates an authorization failure. What is the root cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume only the target snapshot resource needs permission, but AWS requires explicit authorization on the source volume resource for the `ec2:CreateSnapshot` action.
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
✓
The policy does not grant permission to call ec2:CreateSnapshot on the volume resource.
The error occurs because the IAM policy grants `ec2:CreateSnapshot` only on the `arn:aws:ec2:*::snapshot/*` resource, but the API call to create a snapshot also requires permission on the source volume resource (`arn:aws:ec2:*:*:volume/*`). Without that volume-level permission, the request fails with an authorization error, even though the snapshot-level permission is present.
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 does not grant permission to call ec2:DescribeSnapshots, which is required before creating a snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
DescribeSnapshots is not a prerequisite for CreateSnapshot.
- ✗
The policy lacks a condition key to restrict the snapshot creation to specific volumes.
Why it's wrong here
Condition keys are optional; the issue is missing resource permissions for the volume.
- ✓
The policy does not grant permission to call ec2:CreateSnapshot on the volume resource.
Why this is correct
CreateSnapshot requires permission on the volume (e.g., arn:aws:ec2:region:account:volume/*) and optionally on the snapshot.
- ✗
The policy does not include ec2:CreateTags for the volume, only for snapshots.
Why it's wrong here
The script tags the snapshot, not the volume; the policy allows CreateTags on snapshots.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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