- A
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTP and enable stickiness.
Why wrong: ALB listener should use HTTPS for encrypted traffic; stickiness is not required.
- B
Install a certificate on each EC2 instance and configure the target group to use HTTPS.
Installing a certificate on instances allows TLS termination, and HTTPS target group ensures encrypted health checks.
- C
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS and set the target group protocol to HTTP.
Why wrong: Setting target group to HTTP would send unencrypted traffic to instances.
- D
Configure the target group health check to use HTTPS.
HTTPS health checks ensure health checks are encrypted.
- E
Configure the security group for EC2 instances to allow inbound HTTP traffic from the ALB.
Why wrong: Security group should allow HTTPS (port 443) from the ALB, not HTTP.
Quick Answer
The answer is to install a certificate on each EC2 instance and configure the target group health check to use HTTPS. This works because the ALB initiates a new TLS connection to the backend instances, requiring the instances themselves to present a valid certificate for mutual encryption, while the health check must also traverse that encrypted channel to accurately verify application health. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of end-to-end encryption versus termination at the load balancer, a common trap where candidates mistakenly think the ALB’s listener certificate alone covers backend traffic. Remember that the ALB acts as a reverse proxy, so backend TLS is a separate hop requiring instance-level certificates. A useful memory tip is “listener for the front, instance cert for the back”—the listener handles client-facing HTTPS, but the target group health check and data path both need HTTPS configured on the instance side to satisfy the encryption requirement.
ANS-C01 Network Implementation Practice Question
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 is deploying a multi-tier web application on AWS. The application uses an Application Load Balancer (ALB) to distribute traffic to EC2 instances in private subnets across multiple Availability Zones. The security team requires that all traffic between the ALB and the EC2 instances be encrypted using TLS. The application must also support HTTP health checks from the ALB. Which TWO actions should the network engineer take to meet these requirements? (Choose TWO.)
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
Install a certificate on each EC2 instance and configure the target group to use HTTPS.
Options B and D are correct. Option B: Installing a certificate on EC2 instances enables TLS termination at the instance, allowing encrypted traffic from the ALB. Option D: Configuring the target group to use HTTPS health checks ensures health checks are sent over TLS. Option A is incorrect because ALB does not support HTTPS health checks to instances without a certificate. Option C is incorrect because the listener should use HTTPS to forward encrypted traffic. Option E is incorrect because the security group should allow HTTPS (port 443) from the ALB, not HTTP.
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.
- ✗
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTP and enable stickiness.
Why it's wrong here
ALB listener should use HTTPS for encrypted traffic; stickiness is not required.
- ✓
Install a certificate on each EC2 instance and configure the target group to use HTTPS.
- ✗
Configure the ALB listener to use HTTPS and set the target group protocol to HTTP.
Why it's wrong here
Setting target group to HTTP would send unencrypted traffic to instances.
- ✓
Configure the target group health check to use HTTPS.
- ✗
Configure the security group for EC2 instances to allow inbound HTTP traffic from the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
Security group should allow HTTPS (port 443) from the ALB, not HTTP.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
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: Install a certificate on each EC2 instance and configure the target group to use HTTPS. — Options B and D are correct. Option B: Installing a certificate on EC2 instances enables TLS termination at the instance, allowing encrypted traffic from the ALB. Option D: Configuring the target group to use HTTPS health checks ensures health checks are sent over TLS. Option A is incorrect because ALB does not support HTTPS health checks to instances without a certificate. Option C is incorrect because the listener should use HTTPS to forward encrypted traffic. Option E is incorrect because the security group should allow HTTPS (port 443) from the ALB, not HTTP.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This ANS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ANS-C01 exam.
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