The answer is that the request is denied because it originates from the specified IP range. This outcome occurs because the S3 bucket policy includes a Deny statement that explicitly blocks all requests from the IP range 203.0.113.0/24, which contains the address 203.0.113.10. The SecureTransport condition requiring HTTPS is attached only to the Allow statement, not to the Deny, so the protocol used is irrelevant to the Deny effect—once a request matches a Deny condition, it is blocked regardless of any Allow logic. On the Certified Cloud Security Professional CCSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how S3 bucket policy evaluation logic prioritizes explicit Deny over Allow, and how conditions like IP ranges or SecureTransport apply only to the statements that contain them. A common trap is assuming that an Allow condition (like HTTPS) can override a Deny, but in AWS IAM policy evaluation, an explicit Deny always wins. Remember the memory tip: “Deny is final; conditions don’t cross statements.”
CCSP Cloud Data Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud data 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 cloud security engineer reviews the S3 bucket policy shown in the exhibit. What is the net effect of this policy when a request originates from IP address 203.0.113.10 over HTTPS?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deny access because the request is from the specified IP range
The S3 bucket policy includes a Deny statement that blocks all requests from the IP range 203.0.113.0/24, which includes 203.0.113.10. The SecureTransport condition is only applied to the Allow statement, not the Deny, so HTTPS is irrelevant to the Deny effect. Since the request matches the IP address in the Deny statement, it is denied regardless of protocol.
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.
✗
Deny access because the request does not meet the SecureTransport condition
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The request does meet SecureTransport, but Deny still applies.
✗
Allow access because the condition for Deny does not include SecureTransport
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Deny does not require SecureTransport condition to block.
✓
Deny access because the request is from the specified IP range
Why this is correct
Correct: Explicit Deny blocks the request.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Allow access because the request uses HTTPS
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The Deny overrides the Allow.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the principle that an explicit Deny overrides any Allow, and candidates mistakenly think HTTPS or SecureTransport conditions apply globally to all statements in the policy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In AWS IAM policy evaluation, explicit Deny always overrides any Allow, regardless of conditions. The SecureTransport condition (aws:SecureTransport) checks for TLS/HTTPS, but here it is only attached to the Allow statement, meaning the Deny operates unconditionally on the IP range. This is a common pattern to enforce network-level restrictions while still allowing HTTPS-only access from other IPs.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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 Data Security — This question tests Cloud Data Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deny access because the request is from the specified IP range — The S3 bucket policy includes a Deny statement that blocks all requests from the IP range 203.0.113.0/24, which includes 203.0.113.10. The SecureTransport condition is only applied to the Allow statement, not the Deny, so HTTPS is irrelevant to the Deny effect. Since the request matches the IP address in the Deny statement, it is denied regardless of protocol.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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