The answer is to create a NAT gateway in a public subnet and add a route to the private subnet route table pointing to the NAT gateway. This is correct because a managed NAT Gateway is a fully AWS-managed service that provides cost-effective internet access for private subnets without requiring you to patch, scale, or secure an underlying EC2 instance, directly minimizing both cost and management overhead. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between fully managed services and self-managed alternatives; a common trap is choosing a NAT instance to save money, but the exam emphasizes that management overhead often outweighs the lower hourly cost. Remember the memory tip: “Gateway for zero maintenance, Instance for full control”—if the question stresses minimizing overhead, always pick the managed NAT Gateway.
ANS-C01 Network Management and Operations Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. 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 has a VPC with public and private subnets. The private subnets need internet access for software updates. The company wants to minimize costs and management overhead. Which solution should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a NAT gateway in a public subnet and add a route to the private subnet route table pointing to the NAT gateway
Option A is correct because a NATgateway provides outbound internet access for private subnets with minimal management. Option B is incorrect because a NAT instance requires management. Option C is incorrect because an internet gateway alone does not provide outbound access for private subnets. Option D is incorrect because a VPC endpoint is for specific AWS services, not general internet.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 a VPC endpoint for S3 and CloudFront
Why it's wrong here
Not for general internet access.
✗
Attach an internet gateway to the VPC and add a default route to the private subnet route table pointing to the internet gateway
Launch a NAT instance on an EC2 instance in a public subnet
Why it's wrong here
Requires management.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a NAT gateway in a public subnet and add a route to the private subnet route table pointing to the NAT gateway — Option A is correct because a NAT gateway provides outbound internet access for private subnets with minimal management. Option B is incorrect because a NAT instance requires management. Option C is incorrect because an internet gateway alone does not provide outbound access for private subnets. Option D is incorrect because a VPC endpoint is for specific AWS services, not general internet.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Question Discussion
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