DA0-002 Access Control Policy Practice Question
Exhibit
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Principal":{"AWS":"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/DataAnalyst"},"Action":"s3:GetObject","Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::company-data/prod/*"},{"Effect":"Deny","Principal":"*","Action":"s3:GetObject","Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::company-data/prod/sensitive/*"}]}Refer to the exhibit. A data analyst is trying to understand access permissions for the company data folder. Which statement accurately describes the effective permissions?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume an allow rule on a folder grants full access to all subfolders, forgetting that an explicit deny rule on a specific subfolder (via a path condition) takes precedence and creates a narrower effective permission.
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
✓
DataAnalyst can read objects in the production folder except those in the sensitive subfolder.
The exhibit shows an access control policy that grants the DataAnalyst user read permission on the production folder, but includes an explicit deny rule for the sensitive subfolder specified via a path condition. In most access control systems, explicit deny rules take precedence over allow rules, so the deny on the sensitive subfolder overrides the allow on the production folder, effectively blocking read access to objects in the sensitive subfolder while permitting reads elsewhere in the production folder.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
DataAnalyst can read objects in the production folder except those in the sensitive subfolder.
Why this is correct
NTFS permissions are cumulative, but an explicit deny on the sensitive subfolder overrides the inherited allow from the production folder. The DataAnalyst therefore retains read access to production objects while being blocked from sensitive ones, matching the stated effective permissions.
- ✗
DataAnalyst can read all objects in the production folder, including the sensitive subfolder.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit's deny ACE on the sensitive subfolder overrides the inherited allow, so DataAnalyst cannot read those objects. The option is tempting because the parent production folder does grant read access, and inheritance normally propagates permissions downward, but an explicit deny at the subfolder level blocks that inheritance.
- ✗
No one can read from the production folder except DataAnalyst.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit grants read access to at least one other principal or group in addition to DataAnalyst, so the claim that nobody else can read the production folder is false. It is tempting because DataAnalyst is the named user in the scenario, but the effective permissions include every allow ACE that applies to the folder.
- ✗
Only DataAnalyst is allowed to read from the entire production folder.
Why it's wrong here
The sensitive subfolder's explicit deny prevents DataAnalyst from reading the entire production folder, so the claim of full read access is wrong. It is tempting because DataAnalyst holds an allow on the parent, but the deny ACE on the child removes that permission for the subfolder.
Visual reference
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DA0-002 exam.