- A
Use CloudFront signed URLs and configure the bucket policy to allow access from CloudFront IP ranges
Why wrong: Signed URLs are for user access, not for origin access; using IP ranges is not secure.
- B
Enable S3 Block Public Access and configure CloudFront to use the bucket as an origin
Why wrong: Block Public Access would prevent CloudFront from accessing the bucket unless a specific exception is made.
- C
Configure the bucket policy to allow s3:GetObject from the CloudFront service principal
Why wrong: This is the older OAI method; OAC is now recommended and more secure.
- D
Create an Origin Access Control (OAC) and update the bucket policy to allow access only to the CloudFront distribution
OAC ensures only CloudFront can access the bucket via a special principal.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create an Origin Access Control (OAC) and update the bucket policy to allow access only to the CloudFront distribution. OAC is the modern, recommended method to restrict S3 bucket access to CloudFront because it uses a fine-grained, short-term credential model where CloudFront obtains temporary AWS credentials to authenticate each request, rather than relying on a static identity. This ensures the S3 bucket remains fully private and blocks any direct access via the S3 URL, while still allowing CloudFront to serve content. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of origin security best practices, and the common trap is confusing OAC with the older Origin Access Identity (OAI) method—remember that OAC is now the preferred approach for new distributions. A helpful memory tip: OAC uses temporary credentials, so think “OAC = On-the-fly Access Credentials,” while OAI is the legacy “Old Access Identity.”
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 host a static website in an Amazon S3 bucket. The bucket must be private and accessible only through an Amazon CloudFront distribution. Which configuration ensures that CloudFront can access the S3 bucket while blocking direct access via S3 URL?
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
Create an Origin Access Control (OAC) and update the bucket policy to allow access only to the CloudFront distribution
Option A is correct because an Origin Access Control (OAC) allows CloudFront to access the bucket while blocking direct S3 access. Option B is wrong because a bucket policy allowing s3:GetObject from CloudFront's service principal is the older method (OAI), but OAC is the recommended approach. Option C is wrong because S3 block public access would also block CloudFront if not properly configured. Option D is wrong because CloudFront signed URLs are for end users, not for origin access.
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 CloudFront signed URLs and configure the bucket policy to allow access from CloudFront IP ranges
Why it's wrong here
Signed URLs are for user access, not for origin access; using IP ranges is not secure.
- ✗
Enable S3 Block Public Access and configure CloudFront to use the bucket as an origin
Why it's wrong here
Block Public Access would prevent CloudFront from accessing the bucket unless a specific exception is made.
- ✗
Configure the bucket policy to allow s3:GetObject from the CloudFront service principal
Why it's wrong here
This is the older OAI method; OAC is now recommended and more secure.
- ✓
Create an Origin Access Control (OAC) and update the bucket policy to allow access only to the CloudFront distribution
Why this is correct
OAC ensures only CloudFront can access the bucket via a special principal.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
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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: Create an Origin Access Control (OAC) and update the bucket policy to allow access only to the CloudFront distribution — Option A is correct because an Origin Access Control (OAC) allows CloudFront to access the bucket while blocking direct S3 access. Option B is wrong because a bucket policy allowing s3:GetObject from CloudFront's service principal is the older method (OAI), but OAC is the recommended approach. Option C is wrong because S3 block public access would also block CloudFront if not properly configured. Option D is wrong because CloudFront signed URLs are for end users, not for origin access.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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