- A
Place dev and prod in the same subnet and use security groups to filter traffic.
Why wrong: Security groups cannot isolate traffic within the same subnet; they apply to instances.
- B
Use a single subnet and rely on network ACLs to separate traffic.
Why wrong: Network ACLs are applied at subnet boundaries, not within a subnet.
- C
Create separate subnets for dev and prod, use network ACLs to allow only specific ports between them.
Network ACLs are stateless and can control traffic between subnets effectively.
- D
Create two VPCs and use VPC peering to allow communication.
Why wrong: This adds complexity and is not necessary if isolation can be achieved within one VPC.
Question 1,438 of 1,705
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 has a large VPC with multiple workloads. They need to isolate development and production environments within the same VPC, but allow limited communication between them via specific ports. Which approach 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
✓
Create separate subnets for dev and prod, use network ACLs to allow only specific ports between them.
Option C is correct because placing development and production workloads in separate subnets allows you to apply stateless network ACLs at the subnet boundary. Network ACLs can explicitly allow only specific ports (e.g., TCP 443) between the subnets while blocking all other traffic, providing a clear isolation boundary within the same VPC. Security groups alone cannot enforce inter-subnet filtering because they are stateful and applied at the instance level, not at the subnet edge.
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.
- ✗
Place dev and prod in the same subnet and use security groups to filter traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups cannot isolate traffic within the same subnet; they apply to instances.
- ✗
Use a single subnet and rely on network ACLs to separate traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Network ACLs are applied at subnet boundaries, not within a subnet.
- ✓
Create separate subnets for dev and prod, use network ACLs to allow only specific ports between them.
Why this is correct
Network ACLs are stateless and can control traffic between subnets effectively.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create two VPCs and use VPC peering to allow communication.
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity and is not necessary if isolation can be achieved within one VPC.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the stateless behavior of network ACLs with the stateful behavior of security groups, leading them to choose Option A or B, thinking that security groups can enforce subnet-level isolation or that a single subnet with ACLs can separate internal traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network ACLs are stateless, meaning you must explicitly allow both inbound and outbound traffic for each direction, which is ideal for enforcing strict port-level filtering between subnets. Under the hood, AWS evaluates network ACL rules in order by rule number (lowest to highest) and applies a default deny-all rule at the end. In a real-world scenario, you might use a network ACL to allow only TCP 443 from the production subnet to the development subnet for API calls, while blocking all other traffic, ensuring that even if an instance is compromised, lateral movement is restricted at the subnet boundary.
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.
Visual reference
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: Create separate subnets for dev and prod, use network ACLs to allow only specific ports between them. — Option C is correct because placing development and production workloads in separate subnets allows you to apply stateless network ACLs at the subnet boundary. Network ACLs can explicitly allow only specific ports (e.g., TCP 443) between the subnets while blocking all other traffic, providing a clear isolation boundary within the same VPC. Security groups alone cannot enforce inter-subnet filtering because they are stateful and applied at the instance level, not at the subnet edge.
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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