- A
Use a private virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and establish an IPsec VPN tunnel over the private VIF
This provides encryption over a private connection, meeting both requirements.
- B
Use a private virtual interface (VIF) and rely on Direct Connect encryption
Why wrong: Direct Connect does not encrypt traffic by default; encryption must be added via IPsec.
- C
Use a public virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and configure an IPsec VPN tunnel over it
Why wrong: Public VIF accesses public AWS services; traffic may traverse the internet, and encryption is not built-in.
- D
Use a transit virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and attach it to a transit gateway
Why wrong: Transit VIF does not provide encryption; it is for connecting to transit gateways.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to use a private virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and establish an IPsec VPN tunnel over that private VIF. This works because a private VIF provides a dedicated, private link between your on-premises data center and your VPC that never touches the public internet, while the IPsec layer adds end-to-end encryption to the traffic flowing over that private path. Direct Connect alone does not encrypt data, so the IPsec overlay is essential for meeting compliance requirements. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that encrypting Direct Connect traffic with private VIF and IPsec is the only way to achieve both privacy and encryption without using the public internet. A common trap is choosing a public VIF or transit VIF, which either lack encryption or are designed for different use cases. Memory tip: think of it as “private path, public encryption” — the VIF gives you the private path, and IPsec gives you the encryption.
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 financial services company must ensure that all traffic between its on-premises data center and VPC is encrypted in transit and does not traverse the public internet. The company has an AWS Direct Connect connection. Which solution meets these requirements?
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 a private virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and establish an IPsec VPN tunnel over the private VIF
A private VIF over Direct Connect provides a private connection that does not traverse the internet. When combined with IPsec VPN on top of the private VIF, traffic is encrypted. Direct Connect alone does not encrypt traffic. A transit VIF is for connecting to transit gateways, not for encryption. A public VIF accesses public AWS services and still does not encrypt traffic.
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 private virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and establish an IPsec VPN tunnel over the private VIF
Why this is correct
This provides encryption over a private connection, meeting both requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a private virtual interface (VIF) and rely on Direct Connect encryption
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect does not encrypt traffic by default; encryption must be added via IPsec.
- ✗
Use a public virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and configure an IPsec VPN tunnel over it
Why it's wrong here
Public VIF accesses public AWS services; traffic may traverse the internet, and encryption is not built-in.
- ✗
Use a transit virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and attach it to a transit gateway
Why it's wrong here
Transit VIF does not provide encryption; it is for connecting to transit gateways.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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.
Identify which ANS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
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 private virtual interface (VIF) over the Direct Connect connection and establish an IPsec VPN tunnel over the private VIF — A private VIF over Direct Connect provides a private connection that does not traverse the internet. When combined with IPsec VPN on top of the private VIF, traffic is encrypted. Direct Connect alone does not encrypt traffic. A transit VIF is for connecting to transit gateways, not for encryption. A public VIF accesses public AWS services and still does not encrypt traffic.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which ANS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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