SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
Exhibit
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": ["s3:GetObject"],
"Resource": ["arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"]
}
]
}Refer to the exhibit. An application running on EC2 instances needs to pull large binary files from an S3 bucket with maximum throughput. Which configuration should the architect implement to ensure the highest network performance?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates select NAT Gateways or Internet Gateways, assuming any internet route works, missing that VPC Endpoints keep traffic on the private AWS network for maximum throughput.
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
✓
Configure an S3 Gateway VPC Endpoint in the VPC.
To achieve maximum throughput, the application should use an S3 VPC Endpoint. This ensures that traffic between the EC2 instance and S3 stays within the AWS network, bypassing the public internet and avoiding potential bandwidth bottlenecks. Using VPC Endpoints also provides secure connectivity, which is critical for high-performance data transfers, as it prevents the exposure of traffic to external network risks while maintaining consistent latency and high speed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Attach an Internet Gateway to the VPC.
Why it's wrong here
Traffic routed through an Internet Gateway is subject to public network congestion and bandwidth limitations. This approach does not offer the same performance or security characteristics as a VPC Endpoint. Relying on public internet transit is unsuitable for high-throughput applications requiring consistent, high-speed data transfer.
- ✓
Configure an S3 Gateway VPC Endpoint in the VPC.
Why this is correct
A Gateway VPC Endpoint allows private access to S3 without leaving the AWS network. This provides the highest possible throughput by routing traffic over the internal AWS backbone, minimizing latency and avoiding the limitations associated with NAT gateways or public internet routes, thus optimizing performance for data-intensive tasks.
- ✗
Use a NAT Gateway for all outbound traffic.
Why it's wrong here
NAT Gateways are subject to throughput limits and represent a single point of congestion for traffic headed to S3. They introduce unnecessary latency and potential performance bottlenecks. For high-throughput requirements, private connectivity via an S3 VPC Endpoint is the preferred architectural choice over using NAT services.
- ✗
Install an AWS Direct Connect connection.
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is intended for on-premises to AWS connectivity. While it provides consistent bandwidth, it is not the correct solution for EC2-to-S3 traffic within the same region. Using an S3 VPC Endpoint is the most efficient and cost-effective method for intra-region, high-throughput S3 data access.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
About these practice questions
This SAA-C03 question is part of Courseiva's 149-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
This SAA-C03 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 SAA-C03 exam.