This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of legal, risk and compliance. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. An organization has this S3 bucket policy for a bucket containing sensitive customer data. What is the primary risk associated with this policy?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy allows anonymous read access to all objects in the bucket
The S3 bucket policy includes an Allow effect with a Principal of '*' and a condition that only denies unencrypted requests, but it does not explicitly deny anonymous access. Because the Allow statement grants s3:GetObject to all principals (including anonymous users) when the request is encrypted, any unauthenticated user can read objects in the bucket over HTTPS. This is the primary risk: anonymous read access to all objects, exposing sensitive customer data.
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 does not restrict access to specific IP addresses
Why it's wrong here
While IP restriction is missing, the critical risk is that the bucket is publicly accessible.
✓
The policy allows anonymous read access to all objects in the bucket
Why this is correct
The principal is '*' meaning anyone can read objects if they meet the condition.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Any unencrypted request is denied, which could cause data loss if encryption fails
Why it's wrong here
Denial of unencrypted requests is a security control, not a risk.
✗
The policy requires server-side encryption, but does not enforce it for all requests
Why it's wrong here
The condition enforces encryption for GET requests.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that adding encryption requirements alone secures a bucket, when in fact the policy must also explicitly deny anonymous access by using a Deny statement with a NotPrincipal or by restricting the Principal to specific AWS accounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 bucket policies are evaluated using AWS IAM policy logic: an explicit Deny overrides any Allow, but an Allow with Principal '*' grants access to all identities, including anonymous users. The condition 'aws:SecureTransport' or 's3:x-amz-server-side-encryption' only checks the request's encryption status, not the requester's identity. In a real-world scenario, an attacker could enumerate bucket objects via tools like 'aws s3 ls' over HTTPS and download sensitive data without any authentication, because the policy lacks a NotPrincipal or explicit Deny for anonymous access.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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.
Legal, Risk and Compliance — This question tests Legal, Risk and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy allows anonymous read access to all objects in the bucket — The S3 bucket policy includes an Allow effect with a Principal of '*' and a condition that only denies unencrypted requests, but it does not explicitly deny anonymous access. Because the Allow statement grants s3:GetObject to all principals (including anonymous users) when the request is encrypted, any unauthenticated user can read objects in the bucket over HTTPS. This is the primary risk: anonymous read access to all objects, exposing sensitive customer data.
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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