ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
Which THREE are valid methods to secure data in transit between a VPC and an on-premises network over the internet? (Choose three.)
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 Direct Connect with a VPN
To secure data in transit between a VPC and an on-premises network over the internet, the valid methods are AWS Direct Connect with a VPN (B), AWS Client VPN (C), and AWS Site-to-Site VPN (E). - AWS Site‑to‑Site VPN creates an IPsec VPN tunnel over the internet between the VPC and the on‑premises network, encrypting all traffic. - AWS Client VPN is a managed service that allows individual clients to securely connect to the VPC over the internet using an OpenVPN tunnel. - AWS Direct Connect with a VPN combines a dedicated physical connection (Direct Connect) with an IPsec VPN to provide both low latency and encryption. While Direct Connect itself is not over the internet, the VPN layer secures the data in transit. - Option A (VPC Endpoint) is used to access AWS services privately within the VPC, not for on‑premises connectivity. - Option D (VPC Peering) connects VPCs, not on‑premises networks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
VPC Endpoint (Gateway or Interface)
Why it's wrong here
VPC Endpoints provide private access to AWS services, not to on-premises.
- ✓
AWS Direct Connect with a VPN
Why this is correct
Combines Direct Connect for reliability and VPN for encryption.
- ✓
AWS Client VPN
Why this is correct
Allows individual clients to securely connect to the VPC over the internet.
- ✗
VPC Peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC Peering connects VPCs, not on-premises networks.
- ✓
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why this is correct
Creates an IPsec tunnel over the internet to encrypt traffic.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every ANS-C01 question from scratch — 1,621 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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 ways to encrypt data in transit between an on-premises data center and an Amazon VPC? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.Use AWS Site-to-Site VPN.
- B.Use AWS Direct Connect without any additional encryption.
- ✓ C.Use AWS Direct Connect with a VPN tunnel over the connection.
- D.Use VPC peering.
- E.Use an internet gateway with a security group.
Why A: Options A and C are correct. AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an IPSec tunnel, encrypting all traffic. AWS Direct Connect can be combined with a VPN over the connection to encrypt traffic. Option B is incorrect because Direct Connect alone does not provide encryption. Option D is incorrect because VPC peering does not encrypt traffic. Option E is incorrect because internet gateway does not encrypt traffic.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.