- A
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::*/*" } ] }
Why wrong: Grants access to all S3 buckets, overly permissive.
- B
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why wrong: Grants full S3 access, violating least privilege.
- C
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" }, { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-other-bucket/*" } ] }
Correctly scopes read to my-bucket and write to my-other-bucket.
- D
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" } ] }
Why wrong: Grants PutObject to my-bucket instead of my-other-bucket.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the policy with two separate statements: one granting s3:GetObject on arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/* and another granting s3:PutObject on arn:aws:s3:::my-other-bucket/*. This is the only option that enforces least privilege by scoping each action to its exact bucket resource, which is the core principle when designing an S3 read write policy for different buckets. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to combine IAM policy structure with resource-level restrictions, a common trap being the use of a single statement with a wildcard resource or mixing up bucket ARNs. Remember that s3:GetObject and s3:PutObject are distinct actions that must target separate resource ARNs when the buckets differ. A useful memory tip: think of it as “read from one, write to another” — each action gets its own statement and its own bucket ARN, never a wildcard.
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 security engineer is designing an IAM policy to allow an application running on an EC2 instance to read objects from a specific S3 bucket (my-bucket) and write objects to a different S3 bucket (my-other-bucket). The application uses an IAM role with the following trust policy. Which additional policy should be attached to the role to meet the requirements with least privilege?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" }, { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-other-bucket/*" } ] }
Option A is correct because it uses separate statements for read and write actions, with resource ARNs limited to the respective buckets, and does not include unnecessary actions. Option B grants s3:PutObject to the wrong bucket. Option C grants full S3 access. Option D uses a wildcard for resources.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::*/*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Grants access to all S3 buckets, overly permissive.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Grants full S3 access, violating least privilege.
- ✓
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" }, { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-other-bucket/*" } ] }
Why this is correct
Correctly scopes read to my-bucket and write to my-other-bucket.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Grants PutObject to my-bucket instead of my-other-bucket.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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Identity and Access Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: { "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:GetObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*" }, { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": ["s3:PutObject"], "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-other-bucket/*" } ] } — Option A is correct because it uses separate statements for read and write actions, with resource ARNs limited to the respective buckets, and does not include unnecessary actions. Option B grants s3:PutObject to the wrong bucket. Option C grants full S3 access. Option D uses a wildcard for resources.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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