- A
Advertise the same routes over both connections with identical BGP attributes.
Why wrong: To prefer Direct Connect, different attributes (e.g., AS path prepend) should be used.
- B
Use different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections.
Different ASNs prevent routing loops and allow proper path selection.
- C
Use the VPN connection as the primary path and Direct Connect as the backup.
Why wrong: Direct Connect is typically the primary due to lower latency and higher bandwidth.
- D
Use the same BGP ASN for both the Direct Connect and VPN connections.
Why wrong: Using the same ASN can cause BGP issues; best practice is to use different ASNs.
- E
Configure BGP attributes to ensure that the Direct Connect path is preferred over the VPN path.
Adjusting BGP attributes such as local preference or AS path ensures Direct Connect is primary.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure BGP attributes to ensure the Direct Connect path is preferred over the VPN backup, and to use different BGP ASNs for each connection. Using distinct ASNs prevents AWS from treating the Direct Connect and VPN links as a single eBGP session, which would cause routing loops or suboptimal path selection; this separation allows independent routing policies to be applied. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP path selection and failover design in a hybrid network, where a common trap is assuming identical ASNs are fine for simplicity. A key memory tip is “different ASNs, different paths, same goal”—the goal being that BGP attributes like AS path prepending or MED on the Direct Connect path ensure it remains the primary link, while the VPN stays as a clean backup.
ANS-C01 Network Implementation Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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 network engineer is designing a hybrid network architecture that connects an on-premises data center to AWS using AWS Direct Connect and a VPN connection as a backup. The on-premises network uses BGP to advertise routes to AWS. Which of the following are best practices for this setup? (Choose TWO.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections.
Option B is correct because using different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections prevents BGP from treating the two connections as a single eBGP session, which would cause routing loops or suboptimal path selection. This separation allows AWS to distinguish between the two paths and apply independent routing policies. Option E is correct because configuring BGP attributes (such as AS path prepending or MED) on the Direct Connect path ensures it is preferred over the VPN backup, aligning with the design goal of using Direct Connect as the primary link.
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.
- ✗
Advertise the same routes over both connections with identical BGP attributes.
Why it's wrong here
To prefer Direct Connect, different attributes (e.g., AS path prepend) should be used.
- ✓
Use different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections.
Why this is correct
Different ASNs prevent routing loops and allow proper path selection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the VPN connection as the primary path and Direct Connect as the backup.
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is typically the primary due to lower latency and higher bandwidth.
- ✗
Use the same BGP ASN for both the Direct Connect and VPN connections.
Why it's wrong here
Using the same ASN can cause BGP issues; best practice is to use different ASNs.
- ✓
Configure BGP attributes to ensure that the Direct Connect path is preferred over the VPN path.
Why this is correct
Adjusting BGP attributes such as local preference or AS path ensures Direct Connect is primary.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think using the same BGP ASN simplifies configuration, but in a dual-connection design, it actually breaks path independence and can cause routing instability or suboptimal failover behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using different BGP ASNs, AWS treats each connection as an independent eBGP session, allowing you to manipulate path selection via BGP attributes like local preference (set on the AWS side) or AS path prepending (on the on-premises side). For example, you can prepend the AS path on the VPN routes to make them less preferred, ensuring Direct Connect is always chosen unless it fails. In a real-world scenario, if the same ASN is used, AWS may merge the routes and fail to properly failover, causing traffic to intermittently use the backup VPN even when Direct Connect is healthy.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections. — Option B is correct because using different BGP ASNs for the Direct Connect and VPN connections prevents BGP from treating the two connections as a single eBGP session, which would cause routing loops or suboptimal path selection. This separation allows AWS to distinguish between the two paths and apply independent routing policies. Option E is correct because configuring BGP attributes (such as AS path prepending or MED) on the Direct Connect path ensures it is preferred over the VPN backup, aligning with the design goal of using Direct Connect as the primary link.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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