ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
A company wants to encrypt all data in transit between its on-premises data center and AWS. They are using AWS Direct Connect for connectivity. Which additional configuration is required to ensure encryption?
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
✓
Set up an IPsec VPN over the Direct Connect connection
Direct Connect does not provide encryption by default. To encrypt data in transit over Direct Connect, you need to set up an IPsec VPN over the Direct Connect connection. Option A is incorrect because MACsec encrypts at Layer 2, but it is not available on all Direct Connect connections and is different from IPsec. Option B is incorrect because TLS is for application-level encryption, which may not cover all traffic. Option C is incorrect because Direct Connect does not encrypt traffic automatically. Therefore, option D is correct.
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 MACsec to encrypt the Direct Connect connection
Why it's wrong here
MACsec can be used but is less common; IPsec is the typical solution.
- ✗
Configure TLS on all applications
Why it's wrong here
TLS encrypts at application level, not the network connection.
- ✗
No additional configuration is needed; Direct Connect encrypts traffic automatically
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect does not encrypt traffic by default.
- ✓
Set up an IPsec VPN over the Direct Connect connection
Why this is correct
IPsec provides encryption for the entire traffic.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.