ANS-C01 Network Implementation Practice Question
A company is deploying a VPC with public and private subnets. The private subnets need outbound internet access for updates, but must not be directly reachable from the internet. Which AWS service should be used to achieve this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The ANS-C01 exam often tests the misconception that an Internet Gateway can be used in a private subnet by simply not assigning public IPs, but the trap is that an Internet Gateway inherently allows inbound traffic from the internet to any instance with a public IP or via its route, making it unsuitable for private subnets that must not be directly reachable.
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
✓
NAT Gateway
A NAT Gateway enables instances in private subnets to initiate outbound IPv4 traffic to the internet (e.g., for software updates) while preventing unsolicited inbound connections from the internet. It translates the private source IP to the NAT Gateway's Elastic IP address, so responses return to the gateway, which then forwards them to the private instance. This meets the requirement of outbound-only internet access without direct internet reachability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why it's wrong here
Site-to-Site VPN connects on-premises networks to AWS, not for general outbound internet access.
- ✗
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a dedicated private connection, not for general internet access.
- ✗
Internet Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Internet Gateway allows both inbound and outbound internet traffic, which would expose private subnets.
- ✓
NAT Gateway
Why this is correct
NAT Gateway provides outbound internet access for private subnets while blocking inbound internet traffic.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.