Quick Answer
The answer is VPC Flow Logs and Traffic Mirroring. VPC Flow Logs capture metadata about network traffic, including IP addresses, ports, and protocols, enabling analysis of traffic patterns and security group rule effectiveness without inspecting packet payloads. Traffic Mirroring, in contrast, copies actual network packets from Elastic Network Interfaces for deep packet inspection by monitoring appliances, allowing payload-level analysis for threat detection or compliance. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of when to use metadata logging versus full packet capture; a common trap is confusing CloudTrail or AWS Config as network monitoring tools when they focus on API activity and resource configuration, not traffic. Remember the mnemonic: Flow logs for the “who, what, when” of traffic, Mirroring for the “what’s inside” the packet.
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. 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.
Which TWO options are valid ways to monitor network traffic in an AWS environment? (Choose 2.)
AWS Config
Why wrong: Tracks configuration changes.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: Logs API calls, not network traffic.
VPC Traffic Mirroring
Copies traffic for deep packet inspection.
Amazon Inspector
Why wrong: Security assessment tool, not traffic monitoring.
VPC Flow Logs
Captures metadata of IP traffic.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
VPC Traffic Mirroring
VPC Traffic Mirroring (Option C) is a valid way to monitor network traffic because it captures and copies network packets from Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) in a VPC and forwards them to monitoring appliances for deep packet inspection, security analysis, or troubleshooting. This allows you to inspect traffic content, including payloads, without impacting the source or destination of the traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Tracks configuration changes.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
Logs API calls, not network traffic.
VPC Traffic Mirroring
Why this is correct
Copies traffic for deep packet inspection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Security assessment tool, not traffic monitoring.
VPC Flow Logs
Why this is correct
Captures metadata of IP traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS CloudTrail (which logs API calls) with network traffic monitoring, but CloudTrail does not capture data-plane packets or payloads, making VPC Flow Logs and VPC Traffic Mirroring the only correct options for actual network traffic monitoring.
Detailed technical explanation
VPC Traffic Mirroring works by configuring a mirror filter (e.g., based on source/destination IP, port, or protocol) and a mirror target (e.g., a Network Load Balancer or an ENI) to receive copied packets. It uses the Geneve encapsulation protocol (UDP port 6081) to wrap mirrored packets, allowing third-party appliances to perform deep packet inspection without introducing latency to the original traffic flow. This is particularly useful for compliance, intrusion detection, and performance monitoring in regulated environments.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: VPC Traffic Mirroring — VPC Traffic Mirroring (Option C) is a valid way to monitor network traffic because it captures and copies network packets from Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) in a VPC and forwards them to monitoring appliances for deep packet inspection, security analysis, or troubleshooting. This allows you to inspect traffic content, including payloads, without impacting the source or destination of the traffic.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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