- A
Configure the VPN connection but attach it to a separate VGW, and use a transit gateway with failover routing.
Correct. Using a transit gateway with failover routing allows automatic failover from Direct Connect to VPN by managing route priorities in the TGW route tables.
- B
Configure the VPN connection and propagate routes from both the Direct Connect and VPN. Create a static route in the route table for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the VPN.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Creating a static route pointing to the VPN would cause all traffic to use the VPN, not just as a backup, and would prevent failover from Direct Connect.
- C
Configure the VPN connection but do not propagate routes; use static routes in the route table.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Without route propagation, there would be no dynamic routes from the VPN or Direct Connect, and static routes alone would not provide automatic failover.
- D
Configure the VPN connection and propagate routes from both the Direct Connect and VPN. Create a static route in the route table for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the Direct Connect VIF with a higher metric.
Why wrong: Incorrect. VPC route tables do not support metrics on static routes; a static route for Direct Connect would take precedence over propagated VPN routes, preventing automatic failover to VPN when Direct Connect fails.
ANS-C01 Transit Gateway failover routing Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: transit Gateway failover routing. 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 Direct Connect to connect their on-premises network to AWS. They have a virtual private gateway (VGW) attached to their VPC and a Direct Connect virtual interface (VIF) configured. They want to use AWS Site-to-Site VPN as a backup connection. Which configuration ensures that traffic automatically uses the VPN if the Direct Connect connection fails?
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
Configure the VPN connection but attach it to a separate VGW, and use a transit gateway with failover routing.
Option A is correct because by attaching the VPN to a separate VGW and using a transit gateway with failover routing (using route table priorities), the TGW can automatically route traffic to the Direct Connect VIF as primary and fail over to the VPN when the Direct Connect connection fails. This provides automatic failover without relying on static routes or BGP attribute manipulation. Option B is incorrect because adding a static route pointing to the VPN would always send traffic to the VPN, overriding any BGP propagated routes and preventing the use of Direct Connect when available. Option C is incorrect because not propagating routes means there are no dynamic routes; static routes would not provide automatic failover. Option D is incorrect because VPC route tables do not support metrics on static routes; a static route for Direct Connect would take precedence over propagated VPN routes and would not fail over to VPN when Direct Connect fails; additionally, static routes always have higher precedence than propagated routes, so the traffic would not automatically use VPN.
Key principle: Transit Gateway failover routing
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure the VPN connection but attach it to a separate VGW, and use a transit gateway with failover routing.
- ✗
Configure the VPN connection and propagate routes from both the Direct Connect and VPN. Create a static route in the route table for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the VPN.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Creating a static route pointing to the VPN would cause all traffic to use the VPN, not just as a backup, and would prevent failover from Direct Connect.
- ✗
Configure the VPN connection but do not propagate routes; use static routes in the route table.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Without route propagation, there would be no dynamic routes from the VPN or Direct Connect, and static routes alone would not provide automatic failover.
- ✗
Configure the VPN connection and propagate routes from both the Direct Connect and VPN. Create a static route in the route table for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the Direct Connect VIF with a higher metric.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VPC route tables do not support metrics on static routes; a static route for Direct Connect would take precedence over propagated VPN routes, preventing automatic failover to VPN when Direct Connect fails.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The key trap is that many candidates think static routes with metrics can be used for failover, but VPC route tables do not support route metrics. Instead, rely on BGP or transit gateway route tables.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Transit Gateway failover routing
- Virtual Private Gateway (VGW)
- BGP route propagation
- Static route precedence
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
Transit Gateway failover routing
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.
Review transit Gateway failover routing, then practise related ANS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Transit Gateway failover routing.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the VPN connection but attach it to a separate VGW, and use a transit gateway with failover routing. — Option A is correct because by attaching the VPN to a separate VGW and using a transit gateway with failover routing (using route table priorities), the TGW can automatically route traffic to the Direct Connect VIF as primary and fail over to the VPN when the Direct Connect connection fails. This provides automatic failover without relying on static routes or BGP attribute manipulation. Option B is incorrect because adding a static route pointing to the VPN would always send traffic to the VPN, overriding any BGP propagated routes and preventing the use of Direct Connect when available. Option C is incorrect because not propagating routes means there are no dynamic routes; static routes would not provide automatic failover. Option D is incorrect because VPC route tables do not support metrics on static routes; a static route for Direct Connect would take precedence over propagated VPN routes and would not fail over to VPN when Direct Connect fails; additionally, static routes always have higher precedence than propagated routes, so the traffic would not automatically use VPN.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review transit Gateway failover routing, then practise related ANS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Transit Gateway failover routing
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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