Quick Answer
The answer is an internet gateway. This is the correct choice because an internet gateway is a horizontally scaled, redundant VPC component that enables bidirectional communication between resources in a VPC and the public internet, making it essential for any internet-facing Application Load Balancer (ALB) to receive inbound traffic. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of VPC connectivity fundamentals and is often presented as a distractor alongside NAT gateways, which only support outbound traffic from private subnets, or virtual private gateways used for VPNs. A common trap is confusing the internet gateway with a NAT gateway, but remember: the internet gateway is the only component that allows inbound internet traffic to reach an ALB. Memory tip: think “IG for inbound, NAT for outbound only.”
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. 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 web application on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB) in a VPC. The application must be accessible from the internet. Which component must be attached to the VPC to allow internet traffic to reach the ALB?
NAT gateway
Why wrong: NAT gateway provides outbound internet access for private subnets, not inbound.
Virtual private gateway
Why wrong: Virtual private gateway is for VPN connections.
Internet gateway
An internet gateway is required for internet traffic to reach resources in a VPC.
Transit gateway
Why wrong: Transit gateway is for interconnecting networks.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Internet gateway
Option A is correct. An internet gateway is a horizontally scaled, redundant, and highly available VPC component that allows communication between the VPC and the internet. It is required for internet-facing load balancers. Option B is incorrect because a NAT gateway is for outbound-only traffic from private subnets. Option C is incorrect because a virtual private gateway is for VPN connections. Option D is incorrect because a transit gateway is for connecting multiple VPCs and on-premises networks.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
NAT gateway
Virtual private gateway
Internet gateway
Transit gateway
Why it's wrong here
Transit gateway is for interconnecting networks.
Common exam traps
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
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.
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
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
The correct answer is: Internet gateway — Option A is correct. An internet gateway is a horizontally scaled, redundant, and highly available VPC component that allows communication between the VPC and the internet. It is required for internet-facing load balancers. Option B is incorrect because a NAT gateway is for outbound-only traffic from private subnets. Option C is incorrect because a virtual private gateway is for VPN connections. Option D is incorrect because a transit gateway is for connecting multiple VPCs and on-premises networks.
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.
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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