- A
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:CreateLogGroup","logs:CreateLogStream","logs:PutLogEvents"],"Resource":"*"}
Grants the minimum necessary actions.
- B
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"logs:PutLogEvents","Resource":"arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:my-log-group:*"}
Why wrong: Incorrect because it is missing the essential CreateLogGroup and CreateLogStream actions, so it is not sufficient for the Lambda function to write logs.
- C
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"logs:*","Resource":"*"}
Why wrong: Grants all CloudWatch Logs actions, which is excessive.
- D
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:DescribeLogGroups","logs:DescribeLogStreams"],"Resource":"*"}
Why wrong: Only allows describing, not writing.
SCS-C02 Least Privilege 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. A key principle to apply: least Privilege. 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 allow a Lambda function to write logs to CloudWatch Logs. What is the MINIMUM IAM policy that should be attached to the Lambda execution role?
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.
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
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:CreateLogGroup","logs:CreateLogStream","logs:PutLogEvents"],"Resource":"*"}
Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required actions: logs:CreateLogGroup, logs:CreateLogStream, and logs:PutLogEvents, which are all necessary for a Lambda function to write logs to CloudWatch Logs. Option B is wrong because it only grants logs:PutLogEvents but lacks logs:CreateLogGroup and logs:CreateLogStream, which are required if the log group and log stream do not already exist. Option C is wrong because it grants all logs actions (logs:*), which is overly permissive and not the minimum required. Option D is wrong because it grants only describe actions, which do not allow the writing of log events.
Key principle: Least Privilege
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:CreateLogGroup","logs:CreateLogStream","logs:PutLogEvents"],"Resource":"*"}
Why this is correct
Grants the minimum necessary actions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Least Privilege
- ✗
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"logs:PutLogEvents","Resource":"arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:my-log-group:*"}
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because it is missing the essential CreateLogGroup and CreateLogStream actions, so it is not sufficient for the Lambda function to write logs.
- ✗
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"logs:*","Resource":"*"}
Why it's wrong here
Grants all CloudWatch Logs actions, which is excessive.
- ✗
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:DescribeLogGroups","logs:DescribeLogStreams"],"Resource":"*"}
Why it's wrong here
Only allows describing, not writing.
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
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least Privilege
- CloudWatch Logs Actions
- Lambda Execution Role
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
Least Privilege
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review least Privilege, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
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SCS-C02 practice test guide
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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 — Least Privilege.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: {"Effect":"Allow","Action":["logs:CreateLogGroup","logs:CreateLogStream","logs:PutLogEvents"],"Resource":"*"} — Option A is correct because it grants the minimum required actions: logs:CreateLogGroup, logs:CreateLogStream, and logs:PutLogEvents, which are all necessary for a Lambda function to write logs to CloudWatch Logs. Option B is wrong because it only grants logs:PutLogEvents but lacks logs:CreateLogGroup and logs:CreateLogStream, which are required if the log group and log stream do not already exist. Option C is wrong because it grants all logs actions (logs:*), which is overly permissive and not the minimum required. Option D is wrong because it grants only describe actions, which do not allow the writing of log events.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review least Privilege, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Least Privilege
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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