The answer is that the request is denied because an explicit deny in a bucket policy overrides any allow from an IAM policy. This outcome is governed by AWS’s fundamental authorization logic: by default, all requests are implicitly denied, an explicit allow in either an IAM policy or a bucket policy can grant access, but any explicit deny—regardless of where it appears—immediately overrides all allows. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of policy evaluation precedence, often appearing in scenarios where a broad IAM allow conflicts with a restrictive resource-based policy. A common trap is assuming that an IAM allow can bypass a bucket policy deny, but the explicit deny always wins. Remember the memory tip: “An explicit deny is the final veto—no allow can overturn it.”
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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 an IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject on all buckets. However, a specific S3 bucket policy explicitly denies s3:GetObject to all principals. An IAM user with the IAM policy tries to read an object from that bucket. What is the result?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The request is denied because the explicit deny in the bucket policy overrides the allow in the IAM policy.
Option A is correct because an explicit deny in a bucket policy overrides any allow. Option B is wrong because explicit deny overrides allow. Option C is wrong because the bucket policy deny applies to all principals. Option D is wrong because the IAM policy allows the action but the bucket policy denies it.
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 request is allowed because the IAM policy is more specific.
Why it's wrong here
Explicit deny overrides any allow regardless of specificity.
✗
The request is allowed because the IAM policy allows the action.
Why it's wrong here
The bucket policy's explicit deny takes precedence.
✗
The request is denied because the bucket policy applies only to IAM users.
Why it's wrong here
The bucket policy applies to all principals.
✓
The request is denied because the explicit deny in the bucket policy overrides the allow in the IAM policy.
Why this is correct
Explicit deny always overrides any allow.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The request is denied because the explicit deny in the bucket policy overrides the allow in the IAM policy. — Option A is correct because an explicit deny in a bucket policy overrides any allow. Option B is wrong because explicit deny overrides allow. Option C is wrong because the bucket policy deny applies to all principals. Option D is wrong because the IAM policy allows the action but the bucket policy denies it.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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