Quick Answer
The correct answer is AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) and an Application Load Balancer (ALB). This combination works because the ALB terminates the HTTPS connection at the listener level, offloading the SSL/TLS decryption from the backend web servers, while ACM provides and manages the SSL/TLS certificates required for that encrypted traffic. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the standard architecture for web application encryption in a VPC, where the ALB handles both secure ingress and traffic distribution. A common trap is confusing AWS WAF for encryption or assuming CloudFront is mandatory, but the question specifically asks for two services that ensure encrypted internet access to web servers, making ALB plus ACM the precise, minimal pair. Memory tip: think “ALB + ACM = Encrypted Web Traffic” — the ALB is the gatekeeper, ACM is the key.
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. 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 deploying a web application in a VPC. They need to ensure that the web servers can be accessed from the internet and that traffic is encrypted. Which TWO services should they use?
AWS WAF
Why wrong: WAF provides security filtering, not encryption.
Application Load Balancer (ALB)
ALB can terminate SSL/TLS and route traffic to targets.
NAT Gateway
Why wrong: NAT Gateway is for outbound internet access, not inbound encryption.
AWS Certificate Manager (ACM)
ACM provides SSL/TLS certificates for the ALB.
Amazon CloudFront
Why wrong: CloudFront can serve content but is not required for encryption; ALB+ACM is simpler.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Application Load Balancer (ALB)
Options A and D are correct. An Application Load Balancer (ALB) can handle HTTPS termination and distribute traffic to web servers. AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) provides SSL/TLS certificates. Option B is wrong because AWS WAF is for web application firewall, not encryption. Option C is wrong because CloudFront can be used but the question specifies two services; ALB+ACM is a standard combination. Option E is wrong because NAT Gateway is for outbound traffic.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS WAF
Why it's wrong here
WAF provides security filtering, not encryption.
Application Load Balancer (ALB)
NAT Gateway
AWS Certificate Manager (ACM)
Amazon CloudFront
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront can serve content but is not required for encryption; ALB+ACM is simpler.
Common exam traps
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
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.
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
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 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.
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FAQ
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: Application Load Balancer (ALB) — Options A and D are correct. An Application Load Balancer (ALB) can handle HTTPS termination and distribute traffic to web servers. AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) provides SSL/TLS certificates. Option B is wrong because AWS WAF is for web application firewall, not encryption. Option C is wrong because CloudFront can be used but the question specifies two services; ALB+ACM is a standard combination. Option E is wrong because NAT Gateway is for outbound traffic.
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.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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