The answer is the Application Load Balancer (ALB) because it operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model, enabling it to intelligently route HTTPS traffic based on content such as URL paths, host headers, or query strings, while also supporting native TLS termination and cross-zone load balancing across multiple Availability Zones. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the fundamental distinction between Layer 4 and Layer 7 load balancing, often appearing as a straightforward scenario where HTTPS termination and content-based routing are required. A common trap is choosing the Network Load Balancer (NLB) for its raw performance, but remember that NLB operates at Layer 4 and cannot inspect or terminate HTTPS traffic natively—it only forwards TCP traffic. CloudFront is a global content delivery network, not a regional load balancer, and Route 53 is purely a DNS service. Memory tip: think “ALB for Application-level HTTPS smarts, NLB for high-speed TCP, CloudFront for edge caching.”
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 new web application on AWS. They need to distribute incoming HTTPS traffic across multiple EC2 instances in different Availability Zones. Which AWS service should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Application Load Balancer (ALB)
The correct answer is B because an Application Load Balancer (ALB) operates at Layer 7 and can route HTTPS traffic based on content, and it supports cross-zone load balancing. Option A (NLB) operates at Layer 4 and does not support native HTTPS termination. Option C (CloudFront) is a CDN, not a regional load balancer. Option D (Route 53) is a DNS service.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Amazon Route 53
Why it's wrong here
Route 53 is a DNS service that can route traffic but not load-balance at the application layer.
✗
Amazon CloudFront
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront is a content delivery network, not a regional load balancer.
✓
Application Load Balancer (ALB)
Why this is correct
ALB operates at Layer 7, can terminate HTTPS, and distribute traffic across instances in multiple AZs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Network Load Balancer (NLB)
Why it's wrong here
NLB operates at Layer 4 and cannot terminate HTTPS or perform content-based routing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Application Load Balancer (ALB) — The correct answer is B because an Application Load Balancer (ALB) operates at Layer 7 and can route HTTPS traffic based on content, and it supports cross-zone load balancing. Option A (NLB) operates at Layer 4 and does not support native HTTPS termination. Option C (CloudFront) is a CDN, not a regional load balancer. Option D (Route 53) is a DNS service.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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