- A
Enable MACsec on the Direct Connect connection.
MACsec provides Layer 2 encryption with minimal overhead.
- B
Use TLS for all application traffic between data center and VPC.
Why wrong: TLS only encrypts application traffic, not all IP traffic.
- C
Use private VIFs without additional encryption.
Why wrong: Private VIFs are not encrypted.
- D
Create an IPsec VPN tunnel over the Direct Connect VIF to encrypt traffic.
Why wrong: IPsec adds operational overhead and reduces throughput.
Question 1,039 of 1,705
ANS-C01 Network Management and Operations Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. 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.
A financial services company uses AWS Direct Connect to connect its data center to multiple VPCs via a transit gateway. They need to meet PCI DSS compliance requirements by encrypting all traffic between the data center and AWS. What solution meets this requirement with the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
✓
Enable MACsec on the Direct Connect connection.
MACsec (Option A) is the correct solution because it provides encryption at Layer 2 directly on the Direct Connect connection, ensuring all traffic is encrypted with minimal overhead and no additional configuration. This meets PCI DSS requirements with the least operational overhead. Option B (TLS) only encrypts application-level traffic, not all traffic. Option C (private VIFs) does not encrypt traffic by default. Option D (IPsec VPN over Direct Connect) adds complexity and operational overhead compared to MACsec.
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.
- ✓
Enable MACsec on the Direct Connect connection.
Why this is correct
MACsec provides Layer 2 encryption with minimal overhead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use TLS for all application traffic between data center and VPC.
Why it's wrong here
TLS only encrypts application traffic, not all IP traffic.
- ✗
Use private VIFs without additional encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Private VIFs are not encrypted.
- ✗
Create an IPsec VPN tunnel over the Direct Connect VIF to encrypt traffic.
Why it's wrong here
IPsec adds operational overhead and reduces throughput.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Identify which ANS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable MACsec on the Direct Connect connection. — MACsec (Option A) is the correct solution because it provides encryption at Layer 2 directly on the Direct Connect connection, ensuring all traffic is encrypted with minimal overhead and no additional configuration. This meets PCI DSS requirements with the least operational overhead. Option B (TLS) only encrypts application-level traffic, not all traffic. Option C (private VIFs) does not encrypt traffic by default. Option D (IPsec VPN over Direct Connect) adds complexity and operational overhead compared to MACsec.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which ANS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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