The correct step is to configure the target group to use the HTTPS protocol and install a certificate on each EC2 instance. This enforces encryption in transit because the HTTPS protocol requires the Application Load Balancer to establish a TLS connection with the target instances, ensuring that traffic between the ALB and the EC2 fleet is encrypted end-to-end. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how ALB target groups handle encryption—a common trap is assuming that a TLS listener on the ALB alone secures the entire path, but without an HTTPS target group, traffic from the ALB to the instances remains unencrypted HTTP. Remember the key distinction: the listener encrypts client-to-ALB traffic, while the target group protocol controls ALB-to-instance encryption. A useful memory tip is “listener for the front door, target group for the back hall”—both must use TLS to achieve true end-to-end encryption.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 DevOps engineer needs to enforce encryption in transit for all traffic between a fleet of EC2 instances and an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The ALB is configured with a TLS listener. Which step should the engineer take to ensure end-to-end encryption?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the target group to use HTTPS protocol and install a certificate on each EC2 instance
To enforce encryption in transit, the ALB target group should use HTTPS protocol, which requires the instances to present a certificate. Option A is wrong because HTTP does not encrypt traffic. Option B is wrong because the TLS termination should be at the ALB, not re-encrypted. Option D is wrong because security groups do not enforce encryption.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Configure the target group to use HTTP protocol
Why it's wrong here
HTTP is unencrypted; traffic from ALB to instances would be plaintext.
✓
Configure the target group to use HTTPS protocol and install a certificate on each EC2 instance
Why this is correct
HTTPS ensures encryption between ALB and instances.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use security group rules to enforce encryption
Why it's wrong here
Security groups filter traffic but do not enforce encryption.
✗
Terminate TLS at the ALB and use HTTP to instances
Why it's wrong here
Traffic from ALB to instances would be unencrypted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DOP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the target group to use HTTPS protocol and install a certificate on each EC2 instance — To enforce encryption in transit, the ALB target group should use HTTPS protocol, which requires the instances to present a certificate. Option A is wrong because HTTP does not encrypt traffic. Option B is wrong because the TLS termination should be at the ALB, not re-encrypted. Option D is wrong because security groups do not enforce encryption.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DOP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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