- A
Public cloud
Why wrong: Public cloud means all infrastructure is owned by a cloud provider and accessed over the internet by multiple customers. Here, a portion of the workload remains on-premises, so it is not purely public cloud.
- B
Private cloud
Why wrong: Private cloud refers to cloud infrastructure used exclusively by a single organization, often hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. The scenario uses a mix of on-premises and public cloud resources, not solely a private cloud.
- C
Hybrid cloud
Correct. The company combines on-premises infrastructure with AWS public cloud, connected via a VPN. This is the definition of a hybrid cloud deployment model.
- D
Community cloud
Why wrong: Community cloud is infrastructure shared by several organizations with a common concern (e.g., compliance or security requirements). This scenario involves only one organization, not a community.
CLF-C02 Cloud Concepts Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud concepts. 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 financial services company maintains a legacy on-premises database for sensitive customer data that must remain in a physically controlled environment due to regulatory requirements. The company runs its customer-facing web application on AWS to benefit from scalability and global reach. A dedicated encrypted VPN connection securely links the on-premises environment with the AWS cloud. Which cloud deployment model does this scenario BEST represent?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hybrid cloud
This scenario best represents a hybrid cloud because it combines on-premises infrastructure (the legacy database) with public cloud resources (AWS) connected via a dedicated encrypted VPN. The hybrid cloud model allows the company to keep sensitive data in a physically controlled environment while leveraging AWS's scalability for the customer-facing web application.
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.
- ✗
Public cloud
Why it's wrong here
Public cloud means all infrastructure is owned by a cloud provider and accessed over the internet by multiple customers. Here, a portion of the workload remains on-premises, so it is not purely public cloud.
- ✗
Private cloud
Why it's wrong here
Private cloud refers to cloud infrastructure used exclusively by a single organization, often hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. The scenario uses a mix of on-premises and public cloud resources, not solely a private cloud.
- ✓
Hybrid cloud
Why this is correct
Correct. The company combines on-premises infrastructure with AWS public cloud, connected via a VPN. This is the definition of a hybrid cloud deployment model.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Community cloud
Why it's wrong here
Community cloud is infrastructure shared by several organizations with a common concern (e.g., compliance or security requirements). This scenario involves only one organization, not a community.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates might confuse a hybrid cloud with a public cloud because the web application runs on AWS, but the key differentiator is the integration with on-premises infrastructure for regulatory compliance.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Private cloud refers to cloud infrastructure used exclusively by a single organization, often hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. The scenario uses a mix of on-premises and public cloud resources, not solely a private cloud.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Hybrid cloud architectures often use site-to-site VPNs (e.g., IPsec over IKEv2) or dedicated connections like AWS Direct Connect to securely bridge on-premises and cloud environments. Under the hood, the VPN creates an encrypted tunnel using protocols such as AES-256 and SHA-256, ensuring data in transit meets regulatory standards like PCI DSS or GDPR. In real-world scenarios, financial institutions may also use AWS Outposts to extend a physically controlled environment into the cloud, but a VPN connection remains a common, cost-effective hybrid approach.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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 Concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Concepts — This question tests Cloud Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hybrid cloud — This scenario best represents a hybrid cloud because it combines on-premises infrastructure (the legacy database) with public cloud resources (AWS) connected via a dedicated encrypted VPN. The hybrid cloud model allows the company to keep sensitive data in a physically controlled environment while leveraging AWS's scalability for the customer-facing web application.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 CLF-C02 exam.
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