- A
Use the security group ID of the web tier as the source in the app tier inbound rule.
Restricts inbound traffic to only resources with the web security group.
- B
Use the CIDR block of the subnet for the source security group rules.
Why wrong: CIDR blocks are broader; using security group IDs is more precise.
- C
Use network ACLs to enforce rules at the subnet level instead of security groups.
Why wrong: NACLs are stateless and less granular; security groups are more appropriate for instance-level control.
- D
Use the security group ID of the app tier as the source in the database tier inbound rule.
Restricts database access to only the app tier.
- E
Assign the same security group to all instances to simplify management.
Why wrong: This would allow unnecessary communication between tiers, violating least privilege.
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 designing a security group configuration for a three-tier application. The web servers must be accessible from the internet on ports 80 and 443. The application servers must only communicate with the web servers on port 8080. The database servers must only communicate with the application servers on port 3306. Which TWO of the following are best practices for implementing this with security groups? (Choose TWO.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Use the security group ID of the web tier as the source in the app tier inbound rule.
Options B and D are correct. Using security group IDs as source/destination ensures that only resources with that security group can communicate. Option A is wrong because using CIDR blocks is less secure. Option C is wrong because NACLs are not as fine-grained. Option E is wrong because using a single security group for all tiers violates least privilege.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use the security group ID of the web tier as the source in the app tier inbound rule.
Why this is correct
Restricts inbound traffic to only resources with the web security group.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Use the CIDR block of the subnet for the source security group rules.
- ✗
Use network ACLs to enforce rules at the subnet level instead of security groups.
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless and less granular; security groups are more appropriate for instance-level control.
- ✓
Use the security group ID of the app tier as the source in the database tier inbound rule.
Why this is correct
Restricts database access to only the app tier.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Assign the same security group to all instances to simplify management.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow unnecessary communication between tiers, violating least privilege.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related ANS-C01 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the security group ID of the web tier as the source in the app tier inbound rule. — Options B and D are correct. Using security group IDs as source/destination ensures that only resources with that security group can communicate. Option A is wrong because using CIDR blocks is less secure. Option C is wrong because NACLs are not as fine-grained. Option E is wrong because using a single security group for all tiers violates least privilege.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related ANS-C01 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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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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