SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer runs the AWS CLI command shown and receives an AccessDenied error. The IAM user Alice has a policy that grants kms:Decrypt on all resources. What is the most likely cause of the error?
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
✓
The KMS key policy does not grant kms:Decrypt to the IAM user Alice.
The AccessDenied error is caused by the KMS key policy, which explicitly restricts which principals can decrypt using the key. Even though Alice's IAM policy allows kms:Decrypt on all resources, the key policy must also grant her access. If the key policy does not list Alice (or her role) as a principal allowed to decrypt, the request fails. Option A correctly identifies this as the most likely cause.
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 KMS key policy does not grant kms:Decrypt to the IAM user Alice.
Why this is correct
KMS requires both IAM policy and key policy to grant access; key policy may deny.
- ✗
The IAM user policy does not allow kms:Decrypt.
Why it's wrong here
The user has a policy that grants Decrypt, so IAM is not the issue.
- ✗
The command uses the wrong key ID.
Why it's wrong here
The key ID appears valid and matches the error.
- ✗
The ciphertext blob is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
Corruption would cause a different error (InvalidCiphertextException).
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.