- A
The KMS key policy does not allow the user to decrypt.
Correct: The KMS key policy may not grant the user kms:Decrypt, causing decryption to fail despite IAM permissions.
- B
The user is using SSE-C instead of SSE-KMS.
Why wrong: Incorrect: SSE-C is not mentioned; the bucket uses SSE-KMS.
- C
The user does not have s3:GetObject permission.
Why wrong: Incorrect: s3:GetObject is likely granted; the problem is decryption, not retrieval.
- D
The user is not specifying the correct encryption context in the request.
Why wrong: Incorrect: For S3 SSE-KMS, encryption context is managed automatically by S3; the user does not need to specify it manually.
Question 1,011 of 1,748
SSE-KMS Download Still Encrypted: Missing Encryption Context
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: kMS Key Policy. 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 uses AWS KMS to encrypt data in Amazon S3. The security team wants to ensure that when an object is retrieved, it is automatically decrypted. They have configured the S3 bucket to use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key. However, when a user downloads an object using the AWS CLI, the object is still encrypted. The IAM policy for the user includes kms:Decrypt permission. What is the MOST likely reason for this issue?
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 KMS key policy does not allow the user to decrypt.
The most likely reason is that the KMS key policy does not allow the user to decrypt. Even though the user's IAM policy includes kms:Decrypt, KMS requires that both the IAM policy and the key policy grant permission. Since the key policy is separate, it may not include the user as a principal. Option B is incorrect because SSE-C is not indicated. Option C is incorrect because s3:GetObject is needed but the issue is decryption. Option D is incorrect because encryption context is not required for automatic decryption via S3; S3 manages it transparently.
Key principle: KMS Key Policy
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 allow the user to decrypt.
Why this is correct
Correct: The KMS key policy may not grant the user kms:Decrypt, causing decryption to fail despite IAM permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
KMS Key Policy
- ✗
The user is using SSE-C instead of SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: SSE-C is not mentioned; the bucket uses SSE-KMS.
- ✗
The user does not have s3:GetObject permission.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: s3:GetObject is likely granted; the problem is decryption, not retrieval.
- ✗
The user is not specifying the correct encryption context in the request.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: For S3 SSE-KMS, encryption context is managed automatically by S3; the user does not need to specify it manually.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often forget that KMS key policies can override IAM permissions. Even with IAM kms:Decrypt, the key policy must explicitly allow the user.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- KMS Key Policy
- IAM vs Resource-Based Policies
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
KMS Key Policy
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 kMS Key Policy, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Data Protection practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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All SCS-C02 questions
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AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — KMS Key Policy.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The KMS key policy does not allow the user to decrypt. — The most likely reason is that the KMS key policy does not allow the user to decrypt. Even though the user's IAM policy includes kms:Decrypt, KMS requires that both the IAM policy and the key policy grant permission. Since the key policy is separate, it may not include the user as a principal. Option B is incorrect because SSE-C is not indicated. Option C is incorrect because s3:GetObject is needed but the issue is decryption. Option D is incorrect because encryption context is not required for automatic decryption via S3; S3 manages it transparently.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review kMS Key Policy, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
KMS Key Policy
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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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