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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
{
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": "*",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::public-bucket/*"
}
]
}
```
After applying this bucket policy, the owner notices that the bucket is publicly accessible. Which additional configuration must be adjusted to make the bucket private?
The exhibit shows a bucket policy that grants public read access. What is the most effective way to remove this public access?
Refer to the exhibit.
```
{
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": "*",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::public-bucket/*"
}
]
}
```
After applying this bucket policy, the owner notices that the bucket is publicly accessible. Which additional configuration must be adjusted to make the bucket private?
A
Add an access control list (ACL) that denies public access.
Why wrong: ACLs are legacy and can be overridden by bucket policies.
B
Change the bucket policy to deny all access.
Why wrong: A deny statement would conflict with the allow; a better approach is to remove the policy entirely.
C
Enable S3 Block Public Access settings at the bucket or account level.
Block Public Access settings explicitly deny public access, overriding any bucket policies.
D
Enable bucket versioning and delete the public objects.
Why wrong: Deleting objects does not prevent future uploads from being public.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable S3 Block Public Access settings at the bucket or account level.
Option C is correct because S3 Block Public Access settings provide a definitive, override-capable mechanism to prevent any public access to an S3 bucket, regardless of other policies or ACLs. These settings can be applied at the bucket or account level and will block all public access even if a bucket policy explicitly grants it, making them the most effective and secure method to remove public access.
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.
✗
Add an access control list (ACL) that denies public access.
Why it's wrong here
ACLs are legacy and can be overridden by bucket policies.
✗
Change the bucket policy to deny all access.
Why it's wrong here
A deny statement would conflict with the allow; a better approach is to remove the policy entirely.
✓
Enable S3 Block Public Access settings at the bucket or account level.
Why this is correct
Block Public Access settings explicitly deny public access, overriding any bucket policies.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable bucket versioning and delete the public objects.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting objects does not prevent future uploads from being public.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that modifying the bucket policy or ACLs is sufficient to remove public access, but the trap is that these can be overridden or misconfigured, whereas S3 Block Public Access settings provide a guaranteed, centralized control that cannot be bypassed by other permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Block Public Access settings consist of four separate controls: BlockPublicAcls, IgnorePublicAcls, BlockPublicPolicy, and RestrictPublicBuckets. When BlockPublicPolicy is set to true, S3 will reject any bucket policy that grants public access, and RestrictPublicBuckets further limits access to only AWS services and authorized accounts. This mechanism works at the S3 service layer, overriding any conflicting bucket policies or ACLs, and is the recommended first line of defense for data sovereignty and compliance.
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: Enable S3 Block Public Access settings at the bucket or account level. — Option C is correct because S3 Block Public Access settings provide a definitive, override-capable mechanism to prevent any public access to an S3 bucket, regardless of other policies or ACLs. These settings can be applied at the bucket or account level and will block all public access even if a bucket policy explicitly grants it, making them the most effective and secure method to remove public access.
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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