- A
Use an IAM policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses.
IAM policies can also use aws:SourceIp condition.
- B
Configure a network ACL on the subnet that blocks traffic from all but specific IPs.
Why wrong: Network ACLs cannot be attached to S3.
- C
Enable VPC Flow Logs to filter traffic from specific IPs.
Why wrong: Flow logs only log traffic, they do not filter.
- D
Attach a security group to the S3 bucket that allows traffic only from specific IPs.
Why wrong: Security groups cannot be attached to S3.
- E
Use an S3 bucket policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses.
Bucket policies support IP-based conditions.
Question 1,467 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 company wants to allow only specific IP addresses to access an S3 bucket. Which two methods can achieve this? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Use an IAM policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses.
Option A is correct because IAM policies can include a condition key like `aws:SourceIp` to restrict API calls to specific IP addresses. Since S3 API requests are authenticated via IAM, this condition effectively limits which IPs can perform operations on the bucket. Option E is correct because S3 bucket policies also support the `aws:SourceIp` condition key, allowing you to define IP-based access restrictions directly on the bucket resource itself, independent of the requester's IAM identity.
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.
- ✓
Use an IAM policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses.
Why this is correct
IAM policies can also use aws:SourceIp condition.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a network ACL on the subnet that blocks traffic from all but specific IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Network ACLs cannot be attached to S3.
- ✗
Enable VPC Flow Logs to filter traffic from specific IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Flow logs only log traffic, they do not filter.
- ✗
Attach a security group to the S3 bucket that allows traffic only from specific IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups cannot be attached to S3.
- ✓
Use an S3 bucket policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses.
Why this is correct
Bucket policies support IP-based conditions.
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 network ACLs or security groups with S3 access control, not realizing that S3 is a global service that does not reside within a VPC subnet and cannot have security groups attached.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SourceIp` condition key evaluates the source IP address of the originating request, which is typically the public IP of the client. For requests made through a VPC endpoint, the source IP is the private IP of the endpoint, so you must use `aws:VpcSourceIp` instead. Additionally, S3 bucket policies can be used to enforce IP restrictions even when the requester has broad IAM permissions, providing a defense-in-depth layer.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an IAM policy with a condition that limits access to specific IP addresses. — Option A is correct because IAM policies can include a condition key like `aws:SourceIp` to restrict API calls to specific IP addresses. Since S3 API requests are authenticated via IAM, this condition effectively limits which IPs can perform operations on the bucket. Option E is correct because S3 bucket policies also support the `aws:SourceIp` condition key, allowing you to define IP-based access restrictions directly on the bucket resource itself, independent of the requester's IAM identity.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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