The correct answer is the policy granting s3:GetObject on the arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/* resource. This permission allows the IAM user to retrieve and download objects from the bucket, which is the core requirement for read-only access to S3 data. However, a critical nuance for the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam is that true read-only access typically requires both s3:ListBucket (to view the object list) and s3:GetObject (to read the objects). The exam often tests your ability to distinguish between actions that grant data-level read access versus bucket-level listing, and a common trap is selecting a policy that only allows listing without the ability to actually read the objects. Remember the memory tip: "Get to grab, List to look" — s3:GetObject lets you grab the file contents, while s3:ListBucket lets you look at the inventory. For the SCS-C02, always verify that a read-only policy includes both actions unless the scenario explicitly limits the scope to object retrieval only.
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 developer needs to grant an IAM user read-only access to an S3 bucket named 'my-bucket'. Which policy should be attached to the IAM user?
Option D is correct because it grants the s3:GetObject permission on the 'my-bucket/*' resource, which allows the IAM user to read (download) objects from the bucket. For read-only access, the user needs both s3:ListBucket (to list objects) and s3:GetObject (to retrieve objects), but the question asks for a policy that grants read-only access; while D alone is insufficient for full read-only access (it lacks ListBucket), it is the only option that provides a read action on the bucket's objects. The other options either grant write access, full access, or only list permissions without read capability.
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.
Correctly allows read-only access to objects in the bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse s3:ListBucket with read access, thinking listing objects is sufficient for reading, when in fact s3:GetObject is required to retrieve the actual object data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In AWS S3, read-only access typically requires two permissions: s3:ListBucket on the bucket ARN (arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket) to list objects, and s3:GetObject on the object ARN (arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*) to retrieve object data. The IAM policy evaluation logic uses an explicit deny override, so missing either permission can break common operations like 'aws s3 cp' or console browsing. In real-world scenarios, a read-only policy for S3 often includes both actions to allow listing and downloading, but the question's single-action options test the candidate's understanding of which action corresponds to reading object content.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: {"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"s3:GetObject","Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"}]} — Option D is correct because it grants the s3:GetObject permission on the 'my-bucket/*' resource, which allows the IAM user to read (download) objects from the bucket. For read-only access, the user needs both s3:ListBucket (to list objects) and s3:GetObject (to retrieve objects), but the question asks for a policy that grants read-only access; while D alone is insufficient for full read-only access (it lacks ListBucket), it is the only option that provides a read action on the bucket's objects. The other options either grant write access, full access, or only list permissions without read capability.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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