ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
Which TWO actions should be taken to secure an EC2 instance that is used as a bastion host? (Choose 2)
⚠ Common exam trap
AWS often tests the misconception that a bastion host should be placed in a private subnet for security, but the correct design requires it to be in a public subnet to serve as an entry point, with security group restrictions providing the necessary protection.
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
✓
Use a security group that only allows necessary inbound ports
A bastion host should only expose necessary inbound ports (typically TCP 22 for SSH) to minimize the attack surface. By using a security group that restricts inbound traffic to only required ports, you enforce the principle of least privilege at the network layer, preventing unauthorized access to other services that might be running on the instance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use a security group that only allows necessary inbound ports
Why this is correct
Minimize attack surface.
- ✗
Use HTTPS instead of SSH for administration
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS not for shell access.
- ✗
Place the bastion host in a private subnet
Why it's wrong here
Bastion host needs public access.
- ✓
Restrict inbound SSH access to a specific IP range using security group
Why this is correct
Limits exposure.
- ✗
Allow all inbound traffic on port 22 in the network ACL
Why it's wrong here
NACL is less secure than SG.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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