The answer is an S3 bucket policy with a condition using aws:SourceIp. This works because S3 bucket policies are resource-based, allowing you to attach a policy directly to the bucket that evaluates the requester’s IP address against the specified range, such as 203.0.113.0/24, using the aws:SourceIp condition key. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine bucket policies with condition keys for network-level access control, a common task for securing corporate data. A frequent trap is confusing this with VPC endpoint policies, which use aws:SourceVpce instead, or assuming IAM policies alone can restrict by IP—they cannot, as IAM policies lack an IP condition key. Remember the mnemonic “Bucket for IP, IAM for identity” to keep the distinction clear.
SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 SysOps administrator needs to restrict access to an S3 bucket so that only users from the corporate network IP range (203.0.113.0/24) can read objects. Which TWO elements are required to implement this? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The S3 endpoint URL (s3.amazonaws.com) accessible from the corporate network
Options A and B are correct. A bucket policy can use the aws:SourceIp condition to restrict access to the IP range. Additionally, if the users are accessing via the internet, they must use the S3 endpoint. Option C is incorrect because VPC endpoints are for private connectivity, but the condition would be different. Option D is incorrect because IAM policies are for user permissions, not IP restrictions. Option E is incorrect because CloudFront is a CDN, not required.
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.
✗
An IAM policy that allows s3:GetObject from the corporate IP
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies do not support IP conditions directly; use bucket policy.
✗
Amazon CloudFront distribution with an origin access identity
Why it's wrong here
Not required for this use case.
✓
The S3 endpoint URL (s3.amazonaws.com) accessible from the corporate network
Why this is correct
Users must be able to reach the S3 endpoint.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
An S3 bucket policy with a condition that uses aws:SourceIp
Why this is correct
Restricts access based on source IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A VPC gateway endpoint for S3
Why it's wrong here
Not required for internet-based access.
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 SOA-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.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The S3 endpoint URL (s3.amazonaws.com) accessible from the corporate network — Options A and B are correct. A bucket policy can use the aws:SourceIp condition to restrict access to the IP range. Additionally, if the users are accessing via the internet, they must use the S3 endpoint. Option C is incorrect because VPC endpoints are for private connectivity, but the condition would be different. Option D is incorrect because IAM policies are for user permissions, not IP restrictions. Option E is incorrect because CloudFront is a CDN, not required.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SOA-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.
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Question Discussion
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