- A
Attach an Internet Gateway to the VPC and configure a NAT gateway
Why wrong: An Internet Gateway is for internet access, not for private connectivity to on-premises.
- B
Create a VPC peering connection between the VPC and the on-premises network
Why wrong: VPC peering is only for connecting VPCs within AWS, not for connecting to on-premises networks.
- C
Attach a Virtual Private Gateway to the VPC and update route tables
A Virtual Private Gateway is required for Direct Connect connectivity, and appropriate routes must be added in the VPC route tables to route traffic to the on-premises network via the VGW.
- D
Create a Transit Gateway and attach the VPC and Direct Connect
Why wrong: While a Transit Gateway can be used, it is not required for a single VPC; a Virtual Private Gateway is simpler and directly supports Direct Connect.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to attach a Virtual Private Gateway to the VPC and update the route tables. This is required because the Virtual Private Gateway (VGW) acts as the AWS-side termination point for the Direct Connect virtual interface, enabling BGP peering to exchange routes between your VPC and on-premises network. Without the VGW attached, the Direct Connect connection has no logical anchor in the VPC, and traffic cannot be directed across the link. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the foundational Direct Connect architecture, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a candidate must distinguish between a VGW and a Transit Gateway. A common trap is assuming a Direct Connect gateway alone suffices—remember, the VGW is the attachment point for the VPC, while the Direct Connect gateway aggregates multiple VIFs. Memory tip: VGW = VPC’s Gateway to the World, and you must update route tables to point your on-premises CIDR to that gateway.
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. 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 company has a VPC with CIDR 10.0.0.0/16 and needs to connect to an on-premises network using AWS Direct Connect. The on-premises CIDR is 10.1.0.0/16. To enable communication between the VPC and on-premises, which component must be configured?
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
Attach a Virtual Private Gateway to the VPC and update route tables
To connect a VPC to an on-premises network over AWS Direct Connect, you must attach a Virtual Private Gateway (VGW) to the VPC. The VGW serves as the VPN concentrator on the AWS side, terminating the Direct Connect virtual interface (VIF) and enabling BGP peering for route exchange. You then update the VPC route tables to point the on-premises CIDR (10.1.0.0/16) to the VGW, allowing traffic to flow between the VPC and the on-premises network.
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.
- ✗
Attach an Internet Gateway to the VPC and configure a NAT gateway
Why it's wrong here
An Internet Gateway is for internet access, not for private connectivity to on-premises.
- ✗
Create a VPC peering connection between the VPC and the on-premises network
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering is only for connecting VPCs within AWS, not for connecting to on-premises networks.
- ✓
Attach a Virtual Private Gateway to the VPC and update route tables
Why this is correct
A Virtual Private Gateway is required for Direct Connect connectivity, and appropriate routes must be added in the VPC route tables to route traffic to the on-premises network via the VGW.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a Transit Gateway and attach the VPC and Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
While a Transit Gateway can be used, it is not required for a single VPC; a Virtual Private Gateway is simpler and directly supports Direct Connect.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that a Transit Gateway is always required for Direct Connect, but the exam trap here is that a Virtual Private Gateway is the fundamental component for terminating a Direct Connect private VIF to a single VPC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using Direct Connect, a private VIF is established between the customer router and the AWS Direct Connect location, which then terminates on a VGW. The VGW uses BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to exchange routes with the on-premises router, and the VPC route tables must have a static route (or propagated route) pointing to the VGW for the on-premises CIDR. In a real-world scenario, if you have multiple VPCs, a Transit Gateway becomes beneficial to centralize connectivity, but for a single VPC, a VGW is the minimum required component.
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 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Attach a Virtual Private Gateway to the VPC and update route tables — To connect a VPC to an on-premises network over AWS Direct Connect, you must attach a Virtual Private Gateway (VGW) to the VPC. The VGW serves as the VPN concentrator on the AWS side, terminating the Direct Connect virtual interface (VIF) and enabling BGP peering for route exchange. You then update the VPC route tables to point the on-premises CIDR (10.1.0.0/16) to the VGW, allowing traffic to flow between the VPC and the on-premises network.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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