- A
Use an AWS Private Certificate Authority to issue certificates for the instances.
Why wrong: This is more complex than needed.
- B
Use a Network Load Balancer instead with TLS listeners.
Why wrong: NLB is not simpler; ALB can do this.
- C
Place both ALB and instances in a VPC with default security groups.
Why wrong: Default security groups do not encrypt traffic.
- D
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS, and configure the target group to use HTTPS with a self-signed certificate on the instances.
This encrypts traffic between ALB and instances.
Question 184 of 1,750
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 encrypt data in transit between an Application Load Balancer (ALB) and backend EC2 instances. The application uses HTTPS. What is the simplest way to achieve this encryption?
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
✓
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS, and configure the target group to use HTTPS with a self-signed certificate on the instances.
An ALB can terminate HTTPS at the listener and then communicate with backend instances using HTTP if desired. However, to encrypt in transit, you can use HTTPS between ALB and instances as well. The simplest way is to install the same certificate on both ALB and instances, but ALB can use a self-signed certificate. Using an internal CA or ACM Private CA is more complex. Using a TCP listener does not provide encryption.
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.
- ✗
Use an AWS Private Certificate Authority to issue certificates for the instances.
Why it's wrong here
This is more complex than needed.
- ✗
Use a Network Load Balancer instead with TLS listeners.
Why it's wrong here
NLB is not simpler; ALB can do this.
- ✗
Place both ALB and instances in a VPC with default security groups.
Why it's wrong here
Default security groups do not encrypt traffic.
- ✓
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS, and configure the target group to use HTTPS with a self-signed certificate on the instances.
Why this is correct
This encrypts traffic between ALB and instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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.
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Security and Compliance practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS, and configure the target group to use HTTPS with a self-signed certificate on the instances. — An ALB can terminate HTTPS at the listener and then communicate with backend instances using HTTP if desired. However, to encrypt in transit, you can use HTTPS between ALB and instances as well. The simplest way is to install the same certificate on both ALB and instances, but ALB can use a self-signed certificate. Using an internal CA or ACM Private CA is more complex. Using a TCP listener does not provide encryption.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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