The correct architecture is to use a Gateway Load Balancer with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC and configure route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint. This works because the Gateway Load Balancer sits transparently in the data path, allowing you to inspect all VPC traffic—including east-west traffic between subnets within the same VPC—by routing it through the GWLB endpoint, which forwards packets to the security appliances for stateful inspection. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of centralized traffic inspection without introducing a single point of failure or complex routing; a common trap is assuming a Network Load Balancer or Transit Gateway alone can handle east-west inspection, but only GWLB provides the transparent bump-in-the-wire architecture needed. Remember the memory tip: GWLB = “Gateway for all Ways, including East-West.”
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 wants to ensure that all traffic to and from its VPC is inspected by a security appliance. The appliance must be able to inspect traffic between subnets within the VPC. Which architecture should the company use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Gateway Load Balancer with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC and configure route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint.
Option A is correct because a GatewayLoad Balancer (GWLB) with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC allows you to centrally inspect all traffic, including east-west traffic between subnets within the same VPC. By configuring route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint, you can enforce stateful inspection for all inbound, outbound, and inter-subnet traffic without introducing a single point of failure or complex routing.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 a Gateway Load Balancer with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC and configure route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint.
Why this is correct
GWLB provides transparent inspection of all traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deploy a NAT Gateway and route all internet traffic through it.
Create a VPC Peering connection to a centralized VPC with security appliances.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Peering does not automatically route all traffic through appliances.
✗
Attach an Internet Gateway and use Security Groups to log traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security Groups do not inspect traffic; they filter.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that a NATGateway or Internet Gateway can provide full traffic inspection, but they only handle specific traffic types and lack the ability to inspect east-west traffic within a VPC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
GatewayLoad Balancer uses the GENEVE protocol (port 6081) to encapsulate traffic between the GWLB endpoint and the security appliances, allowing transparent inspection of all packets. The GWLB endpoint is a VPC endpoint that appears as a next-hop in route tables, enabling hair-pinning of traffic through the inspection VPC without requiring changes to source or destination IP addresses. This architecture is commonly used for deploying third-party firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet) in a centralized inspection VPC to meet compliance requirements like PCI DSS.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Gateway Load Balancer with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC and configure route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint. — Option A is correct because a Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB) with security appliances in a separate inspection VPC allows you to centrally inspect all traffic, including east-west traffic between subnets within the same VPC. By configuring route tables to send traffic to the GWLB endpoint, you can enforce stateful inspection for all inbound, outbound, and inter-subnet traffic without introducing a single point of failure or complex routing.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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