- A
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates a secure connection over the public internet between an on-premises network and a VPC. While encrypted, it does not provide a dedicated private circuit and is subject to internet variability in latency and throughput. It is not designed to bypass the public internet.
- B
AWS Direct Connect
Correct. AWS Direct Connect establishes a dedicated private connection between an on-premises data center and AWS. This connection bypasses the public internet, resulting in more consistent network performance, lower latency, and potentially lower data transfer costs. It is the appropriate service for the described requirements.
- C
AWS VPN CloudHub
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS VPN CloudHub is a hub-and-spoke VPN model that connects multiple on-premises sites to a virtual private gateway using internet-based VPN tunnels. It does not provide a dedicated private connection to AWS and still relies on the public internet.
- D
AWS Transit Gateway
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Transit Gateway is a network transit hub that simplifies connectivity between multiple VPCs and on-premises networks. However, it is not a connection service itself; it requires an underlying connection such as Direct Connect or Site-to-Site VPN to link on-premises networks. It does not directly provide the dedicated private link.
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Direct Connect, the correct choice because it establishes a dedicated private network connection from a colocation facility or on-premises data center directly to an Amazon VPC, completely bypassing the public internet. This private physical link ensures consistent high throughput and low latency for data-intensive workloads while eliminating data transfer costs associated with internet-based connections, as traffic flows over a secure, dedicated line rather than over the public internet. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of hybrid networking services and the key differentiator that Direct Connect is the only option that provides a private, physical connection for predictable performance. A common trap is confusing AWS Site-to-Site VPN, which also connects to a VPC but still traverses the public internet over encrypted tunnels, so it cannot guarantee the same consistent throughput or bypass internet data transfer costs. Remember the memory tip: Direct Connect is the "direct, dedicated, and private" path—think of it as a private fiber-optic highway for your data, not a public road.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. 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 company runs a data-intensive workload in a colocation facility and wants to establish a dedicated, private network connection to its Amazon VPC. The connection must bypass the public internet to provide consistent high throughput and low latency. The company also wants to avoid data transfer costs associated with internet-based connections. Which AWS service should the company use?
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
AWS Direct Connect
AWS Direct Connect is the correct service because it provides a dedicated, private network connection from an on-premises or colocation facility directly to an Amazon VPC, bypassing the public internet entirely. This ensures consistent high throughput, low latency, and eliminates data transfer costs associated with internet-based connections, as traffic flows over a private physical link.
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.
- ✗
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates a secure connection over the public internet between an on-premises network and a VPC. While encrypted, it does not provide a dedicated private circuit and is subject to internet variability in latency and throughput. It is not designed to bypass the public internet.
- ✓
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
Correct. AWS Direct Connect establishes a dedicated private connection between an on-premises data center and AWS. This connection bypasses the public internet, resulting in more consistent network performance, lower latency, and potentially lower data transfer costs. It is the appropriate service for the described requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS VPN CloudHub
- ✗
AWS Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Transit Gateway is a network transit hub that simplifies connectivity between multiple VPCs and on-premises networks. However, it is not a connection service itself; it requires an underlying connection such as Direct Connect or Site-to-Site VPN to link on-premises networks. It does not directly provide the dedicated private link.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Site-to-Site VPN with a private connection, but VPNs still traverse the public internet and cannot guarantee the consistent performance or cost savings of a dedicated physical link like Direct Connect.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Direct Connect uses industry-standard 802.1Q VLANs to create multiple virtual interfaces (VLANs) over a single physical cross-connect, allowing segmentation of public and private traffic. The service operates at Layer 2/3 and supports both private VIFs (for VPC access) and public VIFs (for AWS public services), with bandwidth options from 50 Mbps to 100 Gbps. In a colocation scenario, the customer orders a cross-connect from their cage to an AWS Direct Connect location, and the physical link is terminated on an AWS Direct Connect router, ensuring traffic never traverses the internet.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Technology and Services — This question tests Cloud Technology and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Direct Connect — AWS Direct Connect is the correct service because it provides a dedicated, private network connection from an on-premises or colocation facility directly to an Amazon VPC, bypassing the public internet entirely. This ensures consistent high throughput, low latency, and eliminates data transfer costs associated with internet-based connections, as traffic flows over a private physical link.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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