- A
Direct Connect gateway
Why wrong: Used with Direct Connect.
- B
Virtual private gateway
AWS-side endpoint for the VPN.
- C
Customer gateway
Represents the on-premises device.
- D
Transit gateway
Why wrong: Optional, not required.
- E
VPN connection
Why wrong: This is the connection itself, not a component.
Question 890 of 1,705
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Which TWO of the following are required to establish an AWS Site-to-Site VPN connection? (Select TWO.)
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
✓
Virtual private gateway
A virtual private gateway (VGW) is required as the AWS-side endpoint for the VPN tunnel; it anchors the encrypted IPsec session and routes traffic from the VPC to the on-premises network. The customer gateway (CGW) represents the on-premises VPN device in AWS, providing the public IP and BGP ASN (for dynamic routing) or static route configuration needed to establish the tunnel. Both are mandatory components of an AWS Site-to-Site VPN connection.
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.
- ✗
Direct Connect gateway
Why it's wrong here
Used with Direct Connect.
- ✓
Virtual private gateway
Why this is correct
AWS-side endpoint for the VPN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Customer gateway
Why this is correct
Represents the on-premises device.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Transit gateway
Why it's wrong here
Optional, not required.
- ✗
VPN connection
Why it's wrong here
This is the connection itself, not a component.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that a transit gateway is required for Site-to-Site VPN, but it is only needed when connecting multiple VPCs or using advanced routing features; a simple VPN to a single VPC only needs a VGW and CGW.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The VPN tunnel uses IPsec with IKEv1 or IKEv2 to negotiate security associations (SAs) and encrypt traffic; the VGW and CGW must match pre-shared keys and encryption parameters. For dynamic routing, BGP (RFC 4271) is used over the tunnel to exchange routes, requiring the CGW to have a BGP ASN and the VGW to use a private ASN (default 64512). In a real-world scenario, if the CGW is misconfigured with an incorrect public IP or BGP ASN, the IKE phase 1 handshake will fail, and the VPN will never come up.
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.
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.
What to study next
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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: Virtual private gateway — A virtual private gateway (VGW) is required as the AWS-side endpoint for the VPN tunnel; it anchors the encrypted IPsec session and routes traffic from the VPC to the on-premises network. The customer gateway (CGW) represents the on-premises VPN device in AWS, providing the public IP and BGP ASN (for dynamic routing) or static route configuration needed to establish the tunnel. Both are mandatory components of an AWS Site-to-Site VPN connection.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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