The answer is the bucket policy condition on aws:sourceVpce does not match requests from the peered VPC. This is because the aws:sourceVpce condition key specifically checks for the VPC endpoint ID of the request’s origin; traffic from a peered VPC traverses a transit gateway instead of the VPC endpoint, so the condition fails even though the IAM role is identical. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how VPC endpoint conditions in S3 bucket policies enforce network-level access control, and it’s a common trap where candidates assume IAM or peering alone grants access. Remember that aws:sourceVpce is endpoint-specific, not VPC-specific—if traffic doesn’t flow through that exact endpoint, the condition blocks it. A useful memory tip: “Vpce checks the path, not the VPC.”
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
A company has an S3 bucket that stores sensitive data. The bucket policy allows access only from a specific VPC endpoint. A security engineer notices that an EC2 instance in the same VPC can access the bucket, but an instance in a peered VPC cannot. Both instances have the same IAM role attached. The VPC endpoint is in the first VPC and is shared via a transit gateway. What is the MOST likely reason the second instance cannot access the bucket?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
The bucket policy condition on aws:sourceVpce does not match requests from the peered VPC.
Option D is correct. The bucket policy condition aws:sourceVpce checks the VPC endpoint ID. If the request comes from a peered VPC, it does not go through the VPC endpoint; it goes through the transit gateway, so the condition fails. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are not the issue. Option B is wrong because the transit gateway does not inherently block S3. Option C is wrong because VPC peering does not automatically provide access to the endpoint.
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.
✗
The IAM role does not have permissions for the second instance.
Why it's wrong here
Same role, same permissions.
✓
The bucket policy condition on aws:sourceVpce does not match requests from the peered VPC.
Why this is correct
Requests from peered VPC do not use the endpoint.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The VPC endpoint is not accessible from the peered VPC.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are not inherently accessible across peering.
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 SCS-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.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The bucket policy condition on aws:sourceVpce does not match requests from the peered VPC. — Option D is correct. The bucket policy condition aws:sourceVpce checks the VPC endpoint ID. If the request comes from a peered VPC, it does not go through the VPC endpoint; it goes through the transit gateway, so the condition fails. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are not the issue. Option B is wrong because the transit gateway does not inherently block S3. Option C is wrong because VPC peering does not automatically provide access to the endpoint.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-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: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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