- A
path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create","update"] }
Why wrong: Incorrect: While it grants create, it also grants update which is not required, and it is not minimal.
- B
path "secret/data/engineering" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Why wrong: Incorrect: Without a glob, this only matches an exact key named 'engineering', not subkeys.
- C
path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create"] }
Correct: Grants create capability on the projects subpath, fulfilling the create requirement with minimal permissions.
- D
path "secret/engineering/*" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Why wrong: Incorrect: Missing the 'data/' prefix, so this path does not match actual KV v2 secrets.
- E
path "secret/data/engineering/*" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Correct: Grants read and list access to all secrets under the engineering path, fulfilling the read/list requirement.
VA-003 Create Vault policies Practice Question
This VA-003 practice question tests your understanding of create vault policies. 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 Vault administrator needs to create a policy for a developer who must read and list secrets from the path 'secret/data/engineering/' and create new secrets under 'secret/data/engineering/projects/'. Which two policy statements should the administrator include? (Choose two.)
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
path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create"] }
The correct statements are A and D. Statement A grants read and list on all secrets under engineering/. Statement D grants create on the projects/ subpath. Other options either have incorrect paths (B, E) or grant unnecessary capabilities (C).
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create","update"] }
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: While it grants create, it also grants update which is not required, and it is not minimal.
- ✗
path "secret/data/engineering" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Without a glob, this only matches an exact key named 'engineering', not subkeys.
- ✓
path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create"] }
Why this is correct
Correct: Grants create capability on the projects subpath, fulfilling the create requirement with minimal permissions.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
path "secret/engineering/*" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Missing the 'data/' prefix, so this path does not match actual KV v2 secrets.
- ✓
path "secret/data/engineering/*" { capabilities = ["read","list"] }
Why this is correct
Correct: Grants read and list access to all secrets under the engineering path, fulfilling the read/list requirement.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related VA-003 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VA-003 question test?
Create Vault policies — This question tests Create Vault policies — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: path "secret/data/engineering/projects/*" { capabilities = ["create"] } — The correct statements are A and D. Statement A grants read and list on all secrets under engineering/. Statement D grants create on the projects/ subpath. Other options either have incorrect paths (B, E) or grant unnecessary capabilities (C).
What should I do if I get this VA-003 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related VA-003 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This VA-003 practice question is part of Courseiva's free HashiCorp 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 VA-003 exam.
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