← SOA-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 910 of 1,546

Security and Compliance →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question

This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 wants to allow a developer to deploy applications using AWS CloudFormation but restrict the developer from creating or modifying IAM resources. Which IAM policy should be used?

A
Allow iam:*
Why wrong: This allows IAM actions, which is not desired.
B
Deny cloudformation:*
Why wrong: This prevents all CloudFormation actions, which is not desired.
C
Allow cloudformation:* and deny iam:*
This enables CloudFormation actions while explicitly blocking IAM actions.
D
Allow cloudformation:* only
Why wrong: Without a deny, the developer might still have IAM permissions from other policies.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Allow cloudformation:* and deny iam:*

Option C is correct because it grants full access to CloudFormation (cloudformation:*) while explicitly denying all IAM actions (iam:*). This ensures the developer can deploy applications using CloudFormation but cannot create or modify IAM resources. Option A is wrong because it allows all IAM actions, which would permit creating and modifying IAM resources. Option B is wrong because it denies all CloudFormation actions, preventing deployment. Option D is wrong because it only allows CloudFormation actions without explicitly denying IAM actions, leaving open the possibility that other policies could grant IAM access.

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.

✗
Allow iam:*
Why it's wrong here
This allows IAM actions, which is not desired.
✗
Deny cloudformation:*
Why it's wrong here
This prevents all CloudFormation actions, which is not desired.
✓
Allow cloudformation:* and deny iam:*
Why this is correct
This enables CloudFormation actions while explicitly blocking IAM actions.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Allow cloudformation:* only
Why it's wrong here
Without a deny, the developer might still have IAM permissions from other policies.

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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

Visual reference

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 SOA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SOA-C02 question test?

Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Allow cloudformation:* and deny iam:* — Option C is correct because it grants full access to CloudFormation (cloudformation:*) while explicitly denying all IAM actions (iam:*). This ensures the developer can deploy applications using CloudFormation but cannot create or modify IAM resources. Option A is wrong because it allows all IAM actions, which would permit creating and modifying IAM resources. Option B is wrong because it denies all CloudFormation actions, preventing deployment. Option D is wrong because it only allows CloudFormation actions without explicitly denying IAM actions, leaving open the possibility that other policies could grant IAM access.

What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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