- A
Verify that the security group associated with the VPC endpoint allows inbound traffic.
Why wrong: Security groups are not applicable to gateway endpoints.
- B
Check the VPC endpoint policy to ensure it allows the actions the users are performing.
The endpoint policy might be restrictive.
- C
Check that the route table for the subnets has a route to the VPC endpoint.
Without a route, traffic may not go through the endpoint.
- D
Ensure the VPC endpoint is in the same region as the S3 bucket.
Why wrong: S3 endpoints are region-specific; this is a basic requirement, not a troubleshooting step.
- E
Verify that the bucket policy includes a condition that denies access if the source VPC endpoint is not the specified one.
Without a deny condition, the policy may allow other access.
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 Amazon S3 bucket with a bucket policy that restricts access to a specific VPC endpoint. However, users are still able to access the bucket from outside the VPC. Which THREE steps should the security engineer take to troubleshoot this issue? (Choose THREE.)
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
Check the VPC endpoint policy to ensure it allows the actions the users are performing.
Option B is correct because the VPC endpoint policy acts as an additional access control layer. Even if the bucket policy correctly restricts access to the VPC endpoint, the endpoint policy must explicitly allow the actions (e.g., s3:GetObject) that users are performing. If the endpoint policy denies or does not include those actions, the request will fail at the endpoint level, but if it is too permissive, it can allow access from outside the intended VPC if the bucket policy condition is misconfigured. Checking the endpoint policy ensures that it does not inadvertently grant broader permissions than intended.
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.
- ✗
Verify that the security group associated with the VPC endpoint allows inbound traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are not applicable to gateway endpoints.
- ✓
Check the VPC endpoint policy to ensure it allows the actions the users are performing.
Why this is correct
The endpoint policy might be restrictive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Check that the route table for the subnets has a route to the VPC endpoint.
Why this is correct
Without a route, traffic may not go through the endpoint.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ensure the VPC endpoint is in the same region as the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
S3 endpoints are region-specific; this is a basic requirement, not a troubleshooting step.
- ✓
Verify that the bucket policy includes a condition that denies access if the source VPC endpoint is not the specified one.
Why this is correct
Without a deny condition, the policy may allow other access.
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 overlook the VPC endpoint policy as a separate authorization layer, assuming the bucket policy alone controls access, and they may also mistakenly think security groups apply to gateway endpoints.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 gateway endpoints use prefix lists in route tables to direct traffic to S3 without leaving the AWS network. The bucket policy condition "aws:SourceVpce" evaluates the VPC endpoint ID from which the request originates, but this condition only works if the request actually traverses the endpoint; if the route table is missing, traffic bypasses the endpoint entirely. Additionally, VPC endpoint policies are evaluated before bucket policies, so a permissive endpoint policy can override a restrictive bucket policy condition.
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.
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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: Check the VPC endpoint policy to ensure it allows the actions the users are performing. — Option B is correct because the VPC endpoint policy acts as an additional access control layer. Even if the bucket policy correctly restricts access to the VPC endpoint, the endpoint policy must explicitly allow the actions (e.g., s3:GetObject) that users are performing. If the endpoint policy denies or does not include those actions, the request will fail at the endpoint level, but if it is too permissive, it can allow access from outside the intended VPC if the bucket policy condition is misconfigured. Checking the endpoint policy ensures that it does not inadvertently grant broader permissions than intended.
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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