This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. The following is an excerpt from an AWS S3 bucket policy:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": "*",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*"
}
]
}
A security analyst reviews the bucket policy above. What is the primary security concern?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Refer to the exhibit. The following is an excerpt from an AWS S3 bucket policy:
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": "*",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*"
}
]
}
A
The bucket policy allows public read access to all objects
Allowing GetObject to anonymous users makes all objects publicly readable.
B
The bucket policy uses an outdated version
Why wrong: Version 2012-10-17 is current.
C
The bucket policy is missing a Condition element
Why wrong: While adding conditions is a best practice, the primary issue is public access.
D
The bucket policy allows public write access to all objects
Why wrong: The policy grants GetObject (read), not write.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The bucket policy allows public read access to all objects
Option A is correct because the bucket policy grants public read access to all objects via a Principal set to '*' and an Effect of 'Allow' on the s3:GetObject action. This means any unauthenticated user on the internet can list and download objects in the bucket, leading to potential data exposure. The primary security concern is unauthorized data disclosure, which violates the principle of least privilege.
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 bucket policy allows public read access to all objects
Why this is correct
Allowing GetObject to anonymous users makes all objects publicly readable.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The bucket policy uses an outdated version
Why it's wrong here
Version 2012-10-17 is current.
✗
The bucket policy is missing a Condition element
Why it's wrong here
While adding conditions is a best practice, the primary issue is public access.
✗
The bucket policy allows public write access to all objects
Why it's wrong here
The policy grants GetObject (read), not write.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between read and write permissions in bucket policies, so candidates may mistakenly choose public write access (Option D) when the policy clearly shows read access, or they may overthink the missing Condition element (Option C) as the primary issue rather than the explicit public Principal.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In AWS S3, bucket policies are evaluated at the resource level, and a Principal of '*' combined with an Allow effect on s3:GetObject effectively disables all access controls for read operations, overriding any bucket ACLs or user permissions. This is a common misconfiguration in the 'Shared Responsibility Model' where the customer is responsible for access policies. A real-world scenario is the 2017 UpGuard breach where a publicly readable S3 bucket exposed sensitive voter data due to a similar policy.
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 Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The bucket policy allows public read access to all objects — Option A is correct because the bucket policy grants public read access to all objects via a Principal set to '*' and an Effect of 'Allow' on the s3:GetObject action. This means any unauthenticated user on the internet can list and download objects in the bucket, leading to potential data exposure. The primary security concern is unauthorized data disclosure, which violates the principle of least privilege.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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