Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Site-to-Site VPN and AWS Direct Connect. These two are the only valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network because they provide dedicated, secure connectivity paths: Site-to-Site VPN uses IPsec tunnels over the public internet via a virtual private gateway or transit gateway, while Direct Connect establishes a private, dedicated physical link that bypasses the internet entirely. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of hybrid networking fundamentals, often appearing as a straightforward multiple-choice item designed to separate core connectivity options from invalid ones like VPC peering or internet gateways. A common trap is confusing VPC peering (which connects VPCs within AWS) with on-premises connectivity. Memory tip: think “VPN for encrypted internet, Direct Connect for private fiber” — if it doesn’t involve a customer gateway or a dedicated cross-connect, it’s not a valid method to reach your data center.
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.
Which TWO of the following are valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network? (Choose 2.)
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Valid method.
Internet gateway
Why wrong: Internet gateway provides internet access, not private connectivity.
NAT gateway
Why wrong: NAT gateway provides outbound internet for private subnets.
VPC peering
Why wrong: VPC peering connects VPCs, not on-premises.
AWS Direct Connect
Valid method.
Answer choices
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 between a VPC and an on-premises network using IPsec. It uses a virtual private gateway or transit gateway on the AWS side and a customer gateway device on-premises, enabling secure communication over the public internet.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
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
Valid method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Internet gateway
Why it's wrong here
Internet gateway provides internet access, not private connectivity.
NAT gateway
VPC peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering connects VPCs, not on-premises.
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
Valid method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse internet-facing connectivity options (internet gateway, NAT gateway) with hybrid connectivity methods, or mistakenly think VPC peering can extend to on-premises networks, when it is strictly limited to inter-VPC communication within AWS.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS Site-to-Site VPN supports both static routes and BGP dynamic routing (using the Border Gateway Protocol) for exchanging route information between the VPC and on-premises network. AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated, private physical connection from an on-premises data center to AWS, bypassing the public internet for lower latency and more consistent bandwidth; it can be combined with a Site-to-Site VPN for encrypted traffic over the private link.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Site-to-Site VPN — AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a VPC and an on-premises network using IPsec. It uses a virtual private gateway or transit gateway on the AWS side and a customer gateway device on-premises, enabling secure communication over the public internet.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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
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 options are valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network? (Choose two.)
hardWhy A: Options A and C are correct. AWS Direct Connect is a dedicated private connection, and AWS Site-to-Site VPN is a VPN over the internet. VPC peering (B) is for VPC-to-VPC. Internet Gateway (D) is for internet access. VPC endpoint (E) is for private access to AWS services.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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