This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy grants access to all users from the specified IP range.
Option A is correct because the policy grants s3:GetObject access to all users (Principal: "*") from the specified IP range, which means any unauthenticated user on the internet within that IP range can read objects in the bucket. This violates the principle of least privilege and exposes data to potential unauthorized access, as the policy does not require authentication or additional authorization checks.
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 policy grants access to all users from the specified IP range.
Why this is correct
Without a Principal, the policy applies to all users (including anonymous) from that IP range.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The policy allows s3:GetObject from any source.
Why it's wrong here
It restricts by IP address.
✗
The policy allows s3:GetObject only to the specific bucket.
Why it's wrong here
That is not a concern; it's expected.
✗
The policy does not restrict access to authenticated users.
Why it's wrong here
Concern is more about missing Principal; option A is more precise.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that an IP restriction alone ensures security, when in fact it still allows anonymous access from any user within that range, bypassing authentication and IAM controls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 bucket policies with `Principal: "*"` allow anonymous access unless explicitly denied by a separate condition or a bucket-level block public access setting. The `aws:SourceIp` condition key evaluates the TCP connection source IP, but it does not authenticate the requester—anyone with that IP (including attackers on a shared network) can retrieve objects. In a real-world scenario, if the IP range belongs to a corporate office, an attacker who compromises a device on that network could exfiltrate sensitive data without any credentials.
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 Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy grants access to all users from the specified IP range. — Option A is correct because the policy grants s3:GetObject access to all users (Principal: "*") from the specified IP range, which means any unauthenticated user on the internet within that IP range can read objects in the bucket. This violates the principle of least privilege and exposes data to potential unauthorized access, as the policy does not require authentication or additional authorization checks.
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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This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CCSP exam.
Question Discussion
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