ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
Which TWO options are valid methods to connect a VPC to an on-premises network? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The ANS-C01 exam often tests the misconception that an Internet Gateway can be used for private on-premises connectivity, but it only provides public internet access; similarly, candidates confuse VPC endpoints or VPC peering as methods to reach on-premises networks, which they are not.
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 Site-to-Site VPN
AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a virtual private gateway or transit gateway in your VPC and a customer gateway device in your on-premises network. It uses IPsec (IKEv1 or IKEv2) to secure traffic over the public internet, making it a valid and common method for hybrid connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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
Creates a secure VPN tunnel over the internet.
- ✗
Internet Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Provides internet access, not private connectivity.
- ✓
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
AWS Direct Connect establishes a dedicated, private physical connection from an on-premises data centre to AWS, bypassing the public internet entirely. This satisfies the stem’s requirement for a valid VPC-to-on-premises method by using a Layer 2 or Layer 3 private link, which provides consistent bandwidth and lower latency compared to VPN-based internet transit.
- ✗
VPC endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Provides private access to AWS services, not on-premises.
- ✗
VPC peering
Why it's wrong here
Connects VPCs, not on-premises.
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.
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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.