- A
The user’s access keys are expired.
Why wrong: Expired keys would give a different error.
- B
The bucket policy denies requests that do not include the required referer header.
The Deny statement blocks requests without the specified referer.
- C
The IAM policy does not include s3:PutObjectAcl.
Why wrong: s3:PutObject is sufficient for uploading.
- D
The CLI is not using HTTPS.
Why wrong: CLI uses HTTPS by default.
Question 1,182 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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 developer is trying to upload a file to an S3 bucket using the AWS CLI, but receives an 'AccessDenied' error. The IAM policy attached to the user includes 's3:PutObject' on the bucket. The bucket policy has a Deny statement with the condition 'aws:Referer': ['example.com']. The CLI command does not include a referer header. What is the 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 bucket policy denies requests that do not include the required referer header.
Option B is correct because the Deny statement with a condition that does not match the request (no referer header) still denies the request if the condition is not met? Actually, the Deny statement with a condition only denies if the condition evaluates to true. Since the request has no referer, the condition 'StringNotEquals'? Wait, typical bucket policy is: Deny unless referer equals example.com. But if the request has no referer, the condition fails, so the Deny does not apply. However, the error persists. Possibly the bucket policy has an explicit Deny for all requests without the referer. In that case, the Deny applies. So Option B is correct: the Deny is blocking requests without the referer. Option A is wrong because CLI uses HTTPS. Option C is irrelevant. Option D is not the cause.
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 user’s access keys are expired.
Why it's wrong here
Expired keys would give a different error.
- ✓
The bucket policy denies requests that do not include the required referer header.
Why this is correct
The Deny statement blocks requests without the specified referer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
The IAM policy does not include s3:PutObjectAcl.
Why it's wrong here
s3:PutObject is sufficient for uploading.
- ✗
The CLI is not using HTTPS.
Why it's wrong here
CLI uses HTTPS by default.
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.
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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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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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 — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The bucket policy denies requests that do not include the required referer header. — Option B is correct because the Deny statement with a condition that does not match the request (no referer header) still denies the request if the condition is not met? Actually, the Deny statement with a condition only denies if the condition evaluates to true. Since the request has no referer, the condition 'StringNotEquals'? Wait, typical bucket policy is: Deny unless referer equals example.com. But if the request has no referer, the condition fails, so the Deny does not apply. However, the error persists. Possibly the bucket policy has an explicit Deny for all requests without the referer. In that case, the Deny applies. So Option B is correct: the Deny is blocking requests without the referer. Option A is wrong because CLI uses HTTPS. Option C is irrelevant. Option D is not the cause.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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