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Question 1,095 of 1,738

Management and Security Governance →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the developer bypassed the SCP by using the PutObject API call with a public-read canned ACL, an action not covered by the denied s3:PutBucketPolicy or s3:PutBucketAcl conditions. This is the most likely reason because SCPs deny specific API actions, and the developer leveraged a different S3 API—PutObject—which includes an optional canned ACL parameter that can make objects publicly readable without ever calling the bucket-level policy actions. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that SCPs are action-based, not outcome-based; a common trap is assuming that blocking bucket-level policies prevents all public access, but object-level ACLs via PutObject can still grant public read. Remember the memory tip: "SCPs block the door, but not the window"—the door is PutBucketPolicy, the window is PutObject with a public-read canned ACL.

SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question

This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 company has a multi-account AWS Organizations setup with hundreds of accounts. The Security team needs to enforce a policy that prohibits the creation of any S3 bucket with public read access across all accounts. They have enabled all features in Organizations and are using Service Control Policies (SCPs). The team creates an SCP with a Deny effect for s3:PutBucketAcl and s3:PutBucketPolicy when the request includes a condition that would make the bucket public. They attach the SCP to the root OU. However, a developer in a member account under the root OU is able to create a bucket with a bucket policy that grants public read access. The SCP is evaluated and shows the Deny is effective for s3:PutBucketPolicy but the bucket policy is still created. What is the MOST likely reason for this behavior?

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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

A
The S3 Block Public Access settings at the account level are overriding the SCP.
Why wrong: SCPs are evaluated before account-level settings; Block Public Access can be bypassed if not applied.
B
The developer used a different API call, such as PutObject with public-read canned ACL, which is not blocked by the SCP because it does not match the denied actions.
The SCP denied specific actions; the developer may have used a different method that also makes the bucket public.
C
The developer used an IAM role that is attached to an Amazon EC2 instance, which bypasses SCPs.
Why wrong: SCPs apply to all principals in the account, including roles.
D
The SCP only denies actions when the request comes from outside the organization, but the developer is within the organization.
Why wrong: SCPs apply to all requests within the organization, not just external.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 developer used a different API call, such as PutObject with public-read canned ACL, which is not blocked by the SCP because it does not match the denied actions.

Option C is correct. SCPs deny the action s3:PutBucketPolicy, but if the bucket policy is created via a different API call (e.g., via CloudFormation or an S3 feature like Object Ownership settings) that bypasses the specific action, the SCP may not deny it. In this case, the developer might have used a method that does not directly call s3:PutBucketPolicy. Option A is wrong because SCPs apply to all accounts in the OU regardless of IAM roles. Option B is wrong because SCPs are not overridden by resource-based policies; they are evaluated before IAM. Option D is wrong because the S3 Block Public Access settings are account-level and can be overridden by explicit permissions.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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 S3 Block Public Access settings at the account level are overriding the SCP.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are evaluated before account-level settings; Block Public Access can be bypassed if not applied.
✓
The developer used a different API call, such as PutObject with public-read canned ACL, which is not blocked by the SCP because it does not match the denied actions.
Why this is correct
The SCP denied specific actions; the developer may have used a different method that also makes the bucket public.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The developer used an IAM role that is attached to an Amazon EC2 instance, which bypasses SCPs.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs apply to all principals in the account, including roles.
✗
The SCP only denies actions when the request comes from outside the organization, but the developer is within the organization.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs apply to all requests within the organization, not just external.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Read the ACL from top to bottom.
Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SCS-C02 question test?

Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The developer used a different API call, such as PutObject with public-read canned ACL, which is not blocked by the SCP because it does not match the denied actions. — Option C is correct. SCPs deny the action s3:PutBucketPolicy, but if the bucket policy is created via a different API call (e.g., via CloudFormation or an S3 feature like Object Ownership settings) that bypasses the specific action, the SCP may not deny it. In this case, the developer might have used a method that does not directly call s3:PutBucketPolicy. Option A is wrong because SCPs apply to all accounts in the OU regardless of IAM roles. Option B is wrong because SCPs are not overridden by resource-based policies; they are evaluated before IAM. Option D is wrong because the S3 Block Public Access settings are account-level and can be overridden by explicit permissions.

What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?

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?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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