The correct answer is that the bucket policy allows uploads only if they use SSE-KMS. This is achieved through a deny statement that blocks any PutObject request where the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header is absent or set to a value other than `aws:kms`, effectively enforcing KMS-based encryption while rejecting unencrypted uploads or those using SSE-S3 or SSE-C. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret S3 bucket policies that combine an explicit allow for SSE-KMS with a conditional deny for non-compliant encryption, a common pattern for compliance-driven environments. A frequent trap is misreading the deny condition as a blanket block—remember, the policy only denies when the encryption header is missing or not KMS, so it does not block SSE-KMS itself. Memory tip: think “Deny if not KMS” to recall that the policy’s bite targets anything that isn’t KMS, not KMS itself.
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Allows uploads only if they use SSE-KMS.
Option B is correct because the second statement denies uploads if the SSE header is null, meaning no encryption specified. Combined with the first statement, only SSE-KMS uploads are allowed. Option A is incorrect because the policy denies non-KMS and no-encryption. Option C is incorrect because it denies both. Option D is incorrect because it allows SSE-S3? No, it denies.
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.
✗
Allows uploads only if they use SSE-S3.
Why it's wrong here
First statement denies non-KMS, including SSE-S3.
✗
Allows uploads without encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Second statement denies null SSE header.
✗
Allows uploads with any server-side encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Denies non-KMS and no encryption.
✓
Allows uploads only if they use SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
Denies non-KMS (first statement) and null header (second statement).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allows uploads only if they use SSE-KMS. — Option B is correct because the second statement denies uploads if the SSE header is null, meaning no encryption specified. Combined with the first statement, only SSE-KMS uploads are allowed. Option A is incorrect because the policy denies non-KMS and no-encryption. Option C is incorrect because it denies both. Option D is incorrect because it allows SSE-S3? No, it denies.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer applies the bucket policy to an S3 bucket. A user uploads an object without specifying any encryption header. What happens?
medium
A.The object is uploaded and encrypted with the bucket's default SSE-S3
B.The object is uploaded and encrypted with SSE-KMS
✓ C.The request is denied with an Access Denied error
D.The object is uploaded without encryption
Why C: The policy denies PutObject when the encryption header is not equal to 'aws:kms'. Since the user did not specify the header, the condition evaluates to true (the header is not equal to 'aws:kms'), and the request is denied. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because default encryption is not applied; C is wrong because even with default SSE-S3, the header is not 'aws:kms'; D is wrong because the policy denies.
Variation 2. Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer applies the bucket policy shown to an S3 bucket. The engineer attempts to upload a file using the AWS CLI without specifying any encryption. What is the outcome?
medium
A.The upload fails because the policy denies all PutObject requests.
B.The upload succeeds because default encryption on the bucket will encrypt the object with SSE-S3.
✓ C.The upload fails because the policy denies PutObject when encryption is not SSE-KMS.
D.The upload succeeds because the object is encrypted with SSE-S3 by default.
Why C: Option B is correct because the bucket policy denies PutObject if the encryption is not SSE-KMS. If the upload does not specify encryption, the encryption header is not set, so the condition StringNotEquals evaluates to true (since no encryption is not equal to 'aws:kms'), and the upload is denied. Option A is wrong because default encryption is not enabled. Option C is wrong because SSE-S3 is also denied. Option D is wrong because the policy does not allow unencrypted uploads.
Variation 3. Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer applies the bucket policy shown to an S3 bucket. A developer attempts to upload an object with the header x-amz-server-side-encryption: AES256. What will happen?
medium
A.The upload succeeds because the policy only denies unencrypted uploads.
B.The upload succeeds because the policy allows all encryption methods.
C.The upload succeeds because the object is encrypted with AES256.
✓ D.The upload fails with an AccessDenied error.
Why D: The policy denies PutObject if the encryption header is not equal to 'aws:kms'. Since the developer uses AES256, the condition StringNotEquals evaluates to true, so the Deny applies. Upload fails. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because AES256 is not allowed. Option C is wrong because the request is denied. Option D is wrong because there is no policy that allows only SSE-KMS; the Deny applies.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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This SCS-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SCS-C02 exam.
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