The answer is to add a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions. This is correct because while the Lambda role’s identity-based policy grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject to the bucket, it does not prevent other principals or services from assuming that role and abusing those permissions. A resource-based policy on the S3 bucket, combined with conditions like aws:SourceArn or aws:SourceAccount, enforces least privilege at the resource level by ensuring only the specific Lambda function can access the bucket. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this tests your understanding of defense-in-depth and resource-level access control in cloud environments—a common trap is thinking the role policy alone is sufficient. Remember the mnemonic: “Role gives the key, but the bucket policy locks the door.”
350-701 Cloud Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of cloud security. 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 security team notices that an AWS Lambda function is allowed to access an S3 bucket containing PII. The Lambda role has an attached policy that grants s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject to the bucket. Which action would be the most effective to ensure least privilege?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions
Option D is correct because adding a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions (such as aws:SourceArn or aws:SourceAccount) enforces least privilege at the resource level. This ensures that only the specific Lambda function can perform s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject on the S3 bucket, preventing any other principal or service from abusing the role's permissions.
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.
Remove the role and create a new role with full S3 access
Why it's wrong here
Full access increases privilege, not least privilege.
✓
Add a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions
Why this is correct
Resource policies with conditions can restrict based on role and source.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
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 confuse resource-based policies (bucket policies) with identity-based policies (IAM roles) and think that modifying the IAM role alone is sufficient, but Cisco tests that least privilege requires restricting access at both the identity and resource levels, especially for cross-service scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 bucket policies are evaluated in conjunction with IAM policies; for cross-service access, the bucket policy must explicitly allow the Lambda execution role ARN and include a condition like aws:SourceArn to prevent confused deputy attacks. A real-world scenario is when a Lambda function processes PII from an S3 bucket—without the bucket policy restriction, any other Lambda function or IAM user with the same role could access the data, leading to a data breach.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions — Option D is correct because adding a bucket policy that restricts access to the Lambda execution role and includes conditions (such as aws:SourceArn or aws:SourceAccount) enforces least privilege at the resource level. This ensures that only the specific Lambda function can perform s3:PutObject and s3:GetObject on the S3 bucket, preventing any other principal or service from abusing the role's permissions.
What should I do if I get this 350-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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