The correct choice is to use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination and target groups configured for TCP, then enable encryption on the NLB. This works because the NLB handles the TLS handshake at the listener level, decrypting incoming traffic and re-encrypting it before forwarding to the application tier over a TCP connection, all without requiring the legacy application to support TLS itself. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of offloading encryption to a load balancer versus requiring application-level changes; a common trap is selecting an Application Load Balancer, which demands TLS support from the target, or a Classic Load Balancer, which is deprecated and lacks this capability. Remember the key distinction: NLB operates at layer 4 and can encrypt inter-tier traffic transparently, while ALB works at layer 7 and needs the app to speak TLS. Memory tip: “NLB for no-app-change TLS” — the NLB handles the crypto so your legacy code doesn’t have to.
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. 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 migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application requires that all traffic between the web and application tiers be encrypted, but the application does not support TLS. What should a network engineer do to meet this requirement without modifying the application?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination and target groups with TCP, then enable encryption on the NLB.
Using a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination can offload encryption/decryption. Option C is correct. Option A is wrong because Application Load Balancer works at layer 7 and requires TLS support from the app. Option B is wrong because Classic Load Balancer is deprecated and less capable. Option D is wrong because VPN is for hybrid connectivity, not within a VPC.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Establish a VPN connection between the web and application instances.
Why it's wrong here
VPN is designed for site-to-site, not within the same VPC.
✓
Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination and target groups with TCP, then enable encryption on the NLB.
Why this is correct
NLB can terminate TLS and forward decrypted traffic to targets that don't support TLS.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use an Application Load Balancer (ALB) with TLS termination between the tiers.
Why it's wrong here
ALB terminates TLS, but backend traffic is still cleartext unless the app supports TLS.
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination and target groups with TCP, then enable encryption on the NLB. — Using a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TLS termination can offload encryption/decryption. Option C is correct. Option A is wrong because Application Load Balancer works at layer 7 and requires TLS support from the app. Option B is wrong because Classic Load Balancer is deprecated and less capable. Option D is wrong because VPN is for hybrid connectivity, not within a VPC.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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