The correct answer is the policy statement that grants only the s3:ListBucket action on the resource arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket. This is the minimum required permission because listing objects in a bucket—whether through the S3 console, CLI, or API—requires the s3:ListBucket action, which operates at the bucket level (not on individual objects). On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the principle of least privilege and the specific mapping between S3 actions and their resource types. A common trap is confusing s3:ListBucket with s3:GetObject, which is only needed for reading object content, or granting broad s3:* permissions, which violates security best practices. Remember the memory tip: "List the bucket, Get the object"—ListBucket targets the bucket ARN, while GetObject targets the object ARN.
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 wants to allow an IAM user to list objects in an S3 bucket named 'my-bucket'. Which IAM policy statement grants the minimum required permissions?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Option B is correct because it grants only the s3:ListBucket action on the specified bucket. Option A is wrong because it grants s3:* which is excessive. Option C is wrong because it uses s3:GetObject which is not needed for listing. Option D is wrong because it grants s3:PutObject which is not needed.
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.
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: {"Effect":"Allow","Action":"s3:ListBucket","Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket"} — Option B is correct because it grants only the s3:ListBucket action on the specified bucket. Option A is wrong because it grants s3:* which is excessive. Option C is wrong because it uses s3:GetObject which is not needed for listing. Option D is wrong because it grants s3:PutObject which is not needed.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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