The answer is AWS Direct Connect. This service provides a private, dedicated network connection from on-premises to AWS, bypassing the public internet to deliver consistent, low-latency performance. Critically, Direct Connect supports multiple VLANs on a single physical circuit, enabling environment isolation for development, test, and production workloads through separate virtual interfaces. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to achieve private, multi-environment segmentation without compromising performance or security. A common trap is confusing Transit Gateway with the connection itself—Transit Gateway is a hub that can aggregate Direct Connect or VPN attachments, but it is not the dedicated link. Another pitfall is selecting Site-to-Site VPN, which traverses the internet and lacks native VLAN support. Memory tip: think “Direct Connect = Dedicated Circuit + VLANs for Isolation,” and remember that VLANs require a physical private link, not an encrypted tunnel over the public internet.
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
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 migrating its on-premises data center to AWS. The migration requires connectivity between the on-premises network and a VPC. The company needs a connection that supports multiple VLANs for separate environments (development, test, production) and provides consistent performance. The company also wants to avoid using the public internet. Which AWS service should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Direct Connect
Option B is correct. AWS Direct Connect provides a private, dedicated connection from on-premises to AWS, supporting multiple VLANs via Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) on a single physical connection. This meets the requirements for isolation and consistent performance. Option A is incorrect because Site-to-Site VPN uses the public internet and does not support VLANs natively. Option C is incorrect because Client VPN is for individual user connections, not site-to-site. Option D is incorrect because Transit Gateway is a network transit hub, not a connectivity service; it can be used with Direct Connect or VPN but is not the connection itself.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Transit Gateway is a hub for connecting multiple VPCs and on-premises networks, not a direct connection service.
✓
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
Direct Connect provides a private connection supporting multiple VLANs for environment isolation.
Site-to-Site VPN uses the public internet and does not support VLANs.
✗
AWS Client VPN
Why it's wrong here
Client VPN is for remote user access, not site-to-site connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related ANS-C01 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Direct Connect — Option B is correct. AWS Direct Connect provides a private, dedicated connection from on-premises to AWS, supporting multiple VLANs via Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) on a single physical connection. This meets the requirements for isolation and consistent performance. Option A is incorrect because Site-to-Site VPN uses the public internet and does not support VLANs natively. Option C is incorrect because Client VPN is for individual user connections, not site-to-site. Option D is incorrect because Transit Gateway is a network transit hub, not a connectivity service; it can be used with Direct Connect or VPN but is not the connection itself.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related ANS-C01 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Question Discussion
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