The correct answer is that the aws:SourceIp condition in the S3 bucket policy blocks the CloudFront Origin Access Identity because it evaluates the requestor’s IP address, not the CloudFront service IP. When CloudFront fetches objects from S3 using an OAI, the request originates from CloudFront’s own IP range, which does not match the allowed 192.0.2.0/24 client IP range, causing an Access Denied error. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how aws:SourceIp interacts with CloudFront—a common trap is assuming the OAI automatically bypasses IP-based restrictions. To allow CloudFront while blocking direct access, you must use aws:SourceArn referencing the CloudFront distribution or the OAI user ARN instead. Memory tip: “SourceIp sees the middleman, not the end user—use SourceArn to let CloudFront in.”
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A company has an S3 bucket policy as shown. The SysOps administrator notices that users from the allowed IP range (192.0.2.0/24) can access objects, but users outside that range are denied. However, a CloudFront distribution with an origin access identity (OAI) is also unable to access the bucket and receives 'Access Denied'. What is the MOST likely cause?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The condition aws:SourceIp restricts access based on the requestor's IP, not the CloudFront IP.
Option D is correct. The bucket policy uses aws:SourceIp condition, which blocks CloudFront because CloudFront's IPs are different from the client IP. To allow CloudFront access while restricting direct access, the policy should use aws:SourceArn or refer to the OAI. Option A is wrong because the OAI is not mentioned in the policy. Option B is wrong because the policy allows GetObject. Option C is wrong because the bucket policy allows from 192.0.2.0/24.
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.
✗
The policy does not allow 's3:GetObject' for the CloudFront OAI.
Why it's wrong here
The policy allows GetObject for all principals, but the condition blocks CloudFront.
✗
The CloudFront distribution is not in the allowed IP range.
Why it's wrong here
The condition is on the source IP, but CloudFront's IPs are not in 192.0.2.0/24.
✓
The condition aws:SourceIp restricts access based on the requestor's IP, not the CloudFront IP.
Why this is correct
CloudFront's IP is different; the condition should be based on OAI.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The CloudFront OAI is not configured in the bucket policy.
Why it's wrong here
The policy does not reference the OAI at all.
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.
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The condition aws:SourceIp restricts access based on the requestor's IP, not the CloudFront IP. — Option D is correct. The bucket policy uses aws:SourceIp condition, which blocks CloudFront because CloudFront's IPs are different from the client IP. To allow CloudFront access while restricting direct access, the policy should use aws:SourceArn or refer to the OAI. Option A is wrong because the OAI is not mentioned in the policy. Option B is wrong because the policy allows GetObject. Option C is wrong because the bucket policy allows from 192.0.2.0/24.
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.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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