This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
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?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The upload fails with an AccessDenied error.
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.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The upload succeeds because the policy only denies unencrypted uploads.
Why it's wrong here
The condition denies if encryption is not aws:kms, including AES256.
✗
The upload succeeds because the policy allows all encryption methods.
Why it's wrong here
The policy explicitly denies non-aws:kms encryption.
✗
The upload succeeds because the object is encrypted with AES256.
Why it's wrong here
The policy denies any encryption other than aws:kms.
✓
The upload fails with an AccessDenied error.
Why this is correct
The Deny statement matches and blocks the upload.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The upload fails with an AccessDenied error. — 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.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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