Quick Answer
The answer is VPC Traffic Mirroring because it is the only AWS service that enables both centralized control of outbound traffic and comprehensive logging for analysis. VPC Traffic Mirroring captures and inspects actual packet contents by duplicating network traffic from elastic network interfaces to monitoring appliances, allowing deep packet inspection of outbound flows to the internet. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between traffic control, metadata logging, and full packet capture—a common trap is confusing VPC Flow Logs (which only log metadata like source/destination IPs and ports) with Traffic Mirroring’s ability to capture the entire payload. Remember: if you need to see the actual data inside the packets for security analysis, you need mirroring, not just logs. Memory tip: “Mirror shows the movie, Flow Logs only show the ticket stub.”
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.
A company has a VPC with multiple subnets. They want to centrally control outbound traffic to the internet and log all traffic. Which AWS service should they use?
NAT Gateway
Why wrong: NAT Gateway provides outbound internet but does not log all traffic.
Network ACL
Why wrong: NACLs control traffic but do not log all traffic.
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: Flow Logs capture metadata but do not control traffic.
VPC Traffic Mirroring
Traffic Mirroring allows you to copy traffic for monitoring and control.
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
The correct answer is D because VPC Traffic Mirroring allows you to capture and inspect network traffic for analysis. Option A (NAT Gateway) provides outbound internet access but does not log all traffic. Option B (VPC Flow Logs) captures IP traffic metadata but does not control traffic. Option C (Network ACL) controls traffic at the subnet level but does not log all traffic.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
NAT Gateway
Network ACL
Why it's wrong here
NACLs control traffic but do not log all traffic.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
Flow Logs capture metadata but do not control traffic.
VPC Traffic Mirroring
Why this is correct
Traffic Mirroring allows you to copy traffic for monitoring and control.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Common exam traps
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
The correct answer is: VPC Traffic Mirroring — The correct answer is D because VPC Traffic Mirroring allows you to capture and inspect network traffic for analysis. Option A (NAT Gateway) provides outbound internet access but does not log all traffic. Option B (VPC Flow Logs) captures IP traffic metadata but does not control traffic. Option C (Network ACL) controls traffic at the subnet level but does not log all traffic.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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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