- A
The bucket policy is missing a Deny statement for the s3:DeleteObject action.
Why wrong: The policy already denies access from outside VPC; it should cover all actions.
- B
The VPC endpoint policy allows the deletion.
Why wrong: VPC endpoint policy is separate; if the bucket policy denies, it should block.
- C
The IAM user is the bucket owner and the bucket policy does not apply to the owner.
Bucket policies do not apply to the account that owns the bucket; IAM policies would need to be used.
- D
The bucket has an ACL that allows the IAM user to delete objects.
Why wrong: ACLs are not likely if the policy is set to VPC endpoint.
Question 472 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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.
A company has an S3 bucket that contains sensitive data. The bucket policy allows access only from a specific VPC endpoint. A security engineer notices that objects in the bucket are being deleted by an IAM user from outside the VPC. The engineer checks the bucket policy and confirms that the policy denies access if the request does not come from the VPC endpoint. However, the deletions continue. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 IAM user is the bucket owner and the bucket policy does not apply to the owner.
Option C is correct because the bucket owner (the root user of the AWS account that owns the bucket) is not subject to bucket policies. Since the IAM user is the bucket owner (same account), the bucket policy's deny condition does not restrict their actions. Therefore, the IAM user can delete objects from outside the VPC. Option A is incorrect because the bucket policy does deny s3:DeleteObject for non-VPC requests; the issue is that the policy does not apply to the owner. Option B is incorrect because the VPC endpoint policy only applies to requests coming through the endpoint, and the user is not using the endpoint. Option D is incorrect because ACLs are not relevant here; even if an ACL allowed the deletion, the bucket policy would typically override it, but again, the policy does not apply to the owner.
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 bucket policy is missing a Deny statement for the s3:DeleteObject action.
Why it's wrong here
The policy already denies access from outside VPC; it should cover all actions.
- ✗
The VPC endpoint policy allows the deletion.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoint policy is separate; if the bucket policy denies, it should block.
- ✓
The IAM user is the bucket owner and the bucket policy does not apply to the owner.
Why this is correct
Bucket policies do not apply to the account that owns the bucket; IAM policies would need to be used.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
The bucket has an ACL that allows the IAM user to delete objects.
Why it's wrong here
ACLs are not likely if the policy is set to VPC endpoint.
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.
Visual reference
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.
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.
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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IAM user is the bucket owner and the bucket policy does not apply to the owner. — Option C is correct because the bucket owner (the root user of the AWS account that owns the bucket) is not subject to bucket policies. Since the IAM user is the bucket owner (same account), the bucket policy's deny condition does not restrict their actions. Therefore, the IAM user can delete objects from outside the VPC. Option A is incorrect because the bucket policy does deny s3:DeleteObject for non-VPC requests; the issue is that the policy does not apply to the owner. Option B is incorrect because the VPC endpoint policy only applies to requests coming through the endpoint, and the user is not using the endpoint. Option D is incorrect because ACLs are not relevant here; even if an ACL allowed the deletion, the bucket policy would typically override it, but again, the policy does not apply to the owner.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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