This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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. They have a web server in the public subnet that needs to make API calls to Amazon S3. The web server has a public IP. What is the MOST secure way to allow the web server to access S3 without traversing the internet?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a Gateway VPC Endpoint for S3 and add a route in the public subnet's route table to S3 via the endpoint
Option C is correct because a Gateway VPC Endpoint for S3 allows private access to S3 without internet traffic, and it is free and highly available. Option A is wrong because a NAT Gateway is used for outbound internet access, but it still uses the internet. Option B is wrong because an Interface VPC Endpoint for S3 is also private but more expensive than Gateway Endpoint. Option D is wrong because a proxy server adds complexity and is not the most secure or simple solution.
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.
✓
Create a Gateway VPC Endpoint for S3 and add a route in the public subnet's route table to S3 via the endpoint
Why this is correct
Correct; Gateway Endpoint provides private access to S3 without internet.
Place a forward proxy server in the public subnet and configure the web server to use it for S3
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this adds complexity and does not guarantee private access.
✗
Create an Interface VPC Endpoint for S3 in the public subnet
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; Interface Endpoint is an option but not the most cost-effective; also it can be used but the question asks for most secure way.
✗
Set up a NAT Gateway in the same subnet and route S3 traffic through it
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; NATGateway still uses the internet to reach S3.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Gateway VPC Endpoint for S3 and add a route in the public subnet's route table to S3 via the endpoint — Option C is correct because a Gateway VPC Endpoint for S3 allows private access to S3 without internet traffic, and it is free and highly available. Option A is wrong because a NAT Gateway is used for outbound internet access, but it still uses the internet. Option B is wrong because an Interface VPC Endpoint for S3 is also private but more expensive than Gateway Endpoint. Option D is wrong because a proxy server adds complexity and is not the most secure or simple solution.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Question Discussion
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