The answer is a Direct Connect private virtual interface attached to a Direct Connect Gateway. This combination is required because the Direct Connect Gateway acts as a central hub that allows a single private virtual interface to connect to multiple VPCs or a Transit Gateway, enabling traffic from on-premises networks to reach the web application without traversing the internet. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to integrate Direct Connect with Transit Gateway for hybrid networking, often appearing as a two-part selection where candidates mistakenly choose a VPN or Internet Gateway. A common trap is assuming a VPN is sufficient, but a VPN still uses the public internet, while Direct Connect provides a private, dedicated connection. Memory tip: think of the Direct Connect Gateway as the “private bridge” that links your on-premises data center directly to the Transit Gateway, bypassing the public internet entirely.
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 using AWS Transit Gateway to connect multiple VPCs and on-premises networks. They have a VPC with a subnet that hosts a web application. They need to ensure that traffic from the on-premises network to the web application does not traverse the internet. Which TWO components are required? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Direct Connect Gateway associated with the Transit Gateway
To connect on-premises to a VPC via Transit Gateway without internet, you need a Direct Connect private VIF attached to a Direct Connect Gateway, and the Direct Connect Gateway must be associated with the Transit Gateway. Option A (VPN) would go over the internet; Option C (Internet Gateway) is internet; Option D (VPC Peering) is not for on-premises; Option E (CloudFront) is a CDN.
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
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Internet Gateway attached to the VPC
Why it's wrong here
Internet Gateway is for internet access, not private connectivity.
✓
Direct Connect Gateway associated with the Transit Gateway
Why this is correct
This allows the Direct Connect connection to be propagated to the Transit Gateway.
Site-to-Site VPN connection to the Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
VPN uses the internet; the requirement is to avoid the internet.
✗
CloudFront distribution in front of the web application
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront is a CDN and does not provide private connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Direct Connect Gateway associated with the Transit Gateway — To connect on-premises to a VPC via Transit Gateway without internet, you need a Direct Connect private VIF attached to a Direct Connect Gateway, and the Direct Connect Gateway must be associated with the Transit Gateway. Option A (VPN) would go over the internet; Option C (Internet Gateway) is internet; Option D (VPC Peering) is not for on-premises; Option E (CloudFront) is a CDN.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to securely connect multiple VPCs in the same region to a common on-premises network using a single Direct Connect connection. Which AWS service should they use to simplify the network architecture?
easy
A.Virtual Private Gateway
✓ B.Direct Connect Gateway
C.VPC Peering
D.Transit Gateway
Why B: Option B is correct. A Direct Connect gateway allows you to associate multiple VPCs (via virtual private gateways or transit gateways) to a single Direct Connect connection. Option A is wrong because a transit gateway alone does not include Direct Connect. Option C is wrong because a VPC peering connection is for VPC-to-VPC, not Direct Connect. Option D is wrong because a VPN gateway is for VPN, not Direct Connect.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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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