- A
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Creates a secure connection over the internet.
- B
AWS Direct Connect
Provides a dedicated private connection from on-premises to AWS.
- C
VPC endpoints
Why wrong: Provide private access to AWS services, not to on-premises.
- D
AWS Transit Gateway
Why wrong: A hub for connecting VPCs and on-premises, but not a connection method itself.
- E
VPC peering
Why wrong: Connects VPCs, not on-premises.
Question 1,601 of 1,705
VPC to On-Premises Connectivity Methods — AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Explained
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the public internet between a VPC and an on-premises network using IPsec. It is a fully managed, quick-to-deploy method that supports both static routes and BGP dynamic routing via the virtual private gateway.
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.
- ✓
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why this is correct
Creates a secure connection over the internet.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
Provides a dedicated private connection from on-premises to AWS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
VPC endpoints
Why it's wrong here
Provide private access to AWS services, not to on-premises.
- ✗
AWS Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
A hub for connecting VPCs and on-premises, but not a connection method itself.
- ✗
VPC peering
Why it's wrong here
Connects VPCs, not on-premises.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse AWS Transit Gateway as a direct connection method to on-premises, when it is actually a central hub that requires a VPN or Direct Connect attachment to reach on-premises networks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Site-to-Site VPN uses IKEv1 or IKEv2 for key exchange and supports AES 128/256-bit encryption. The VPN connection consists of two tunnels for high availability, and when combined with BGP dynamic routing, it can automatically fail over between tunnels. Direct Connect provides a dedicated physical link bypassing the internet, offering consistent latency and higher bandwidth, but requires a cross-connect at an AWS Direct Connect location.
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 Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Site-to-Site VPN — AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the public internet between a VPC and an on-premises network using IPsec. It is a fully managed, quick-to-deploy method that supports both static routes and BGP dynamic routing via the virtual private gateway.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on ANS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are valid methods to connect an on-premises data center to a VPC in AWS? (Choose 2.)
easy- ✓ A.AWS Direct Connect
- B.VPC endpoint
- C.Transit Gateway
- ✓ D.AWS Site-to-Site VPN
- E.VPC peering
Why A: AWS Direct Connect is a correct answer because it provides a dedicated, private network connection from an on-premises data center to AWS, bypassing the public internet for consistent latency and higher bandwidth. This service uses industry-standard 802.1Q VLANs to create virtual interfaces, enabling direct access to VPCs via private virtual interfaces (VIFs) or transit virtual interfaces for use with Transit Gateway.
Variation 2. Which TWO options are valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network? (Choose 2)
medium- A.Internet gateway
- ✓ B.AWS Direct Connect
- C.VPC endpoint
- D.VPC peering connection
- ✓ E.AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why B: AWS Site-to-Site VPN and AWS Direct Connect are the two primary services for hybrid connectivity. VPC peering is for VPC-to-VPC, not on-premises. VPC endpoints are for accessing AWS services privately. Internet gateway is for public internet access.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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