- A
Use a single Direct Connect connection with multiple virtual interfaces and enable encryption on the physical connection.
Why wrong: Wrong: Direct Connect does not natively encrypt; you need IPsec.
- B
Use AWS Transit Gateway with an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect using a virtual private gateway on each VPC, and configure Transit Gateway route tables.
Correct: IPsec provides encryption; Transit Gateway enables VPC-to-VPC.
- C
Use AWS Transit Gateway with Direct Connect Gateway and enable encryption on the Transit Gateway attachments.
Why wrong: Wrong: Transit Gateway attachments do not encrypt traffic; you need IPsec.
- D
Set up a VPN connection over the internet between on-premises and each VPC, and use VPC Peering for VPC-to-VPC traffic.
Why wrong: Wrong: Does not use Direct Connect; VPC Peering works but lacks 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 company is designing a hybrid network using AWS Direct Connect with multiple VPCs in the same region. They need to ensure that traffic between on-premises and VPCs is encrypted and that VPC-to-VPC traffic does not traverse the internet. 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 AWS Transit Gateway with an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect using a virtual private gateway on each VPC, and configure Transit Gateway route tables.
Option B is correct because it uses AWS Transit Gateway to centrally route traffic between on-premises and multiple VPCs, and an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect provides encryption for traffic between on-premises and VPCs. The Transit Gateway route tables ensure VPC-to-VPC traffic stays within the AWS network without traversing the internet, meeting both requirements.
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 single Direct Connect connection with multiple virtual interfaces and enable encryption on the physical connection.
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: Direct Connect does not natively encrypt; you need IPsec.
- ✓
Use AWS Transit Gateway with an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect using a virtual private gateway on each VPC, and configure Transit Gateway route tables.
- ✗
Use AWS Transit Gateway with Direct Connect Gateway and enable encryption on the Transit Gateway attachments.
- ✗
Set up a VPN connection over the internet between on-premises and each VPC, and use VPC Peering for VPC-to-VPC traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: Does not use Direct Connect; VPC Peering works but lacks encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume Direct Connect provides encryption by default or that Transit Gateway attachments can be encrypted natively, but neither is true—encryption requires an overlay like IPsec VPN.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect leverages the private, low-latency Direct Connect link while adding encryption via IKEv2 and ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) to secure traffic between on-premises and VPCs. Transit Gateway uses a hub-and-spoke model with route tables that can isolate or propagate routes, ensuring VPC-to-VPC traffic is forwarded through the Transit Gateway without requiring internet gateways or NAT. A real-world scenario is a financial services company that must encrypt all cross-premises traffic for compliance (e.g., PCI DSS) while maintaining high throughput and low latency for inter-VPC communication.
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
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 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 AWS Transit Gateway with an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect using a virtual private gateway on each VPC, and configure Transit Gateway route tables. — Option B is correct because it uses AWS Transit Gateway to centrally route traffic between on-premises and multiple VPCs, and an IPsec VPN over Direct Connect provides encryption for traffic between on-premises and VPCs. The Transit Gateway route tables ensure VPC-to-VPC traffic stays within the AWS network without traversing the internet, meeting both requirements.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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