- A
Use AWS PrivateLink by creating a VPC endpoint service backed by the NLB in VPC A, then create an interface VPC endpoint in the partner VPC with appropriate endpoint access controls.
PrivateLink exposes the service privately via interface endpoints, avoiding peering and keeping the NLB non-public for secure partner access.
- B
Expose the NLB to the internet with an Elastic IP and restrict access using the NLB’s security group only.
Why wrong: Making the NLB internet-facing violates non-public requirements, even if security groups limit allowed sources.
- C
Use VPC peering between VPC A and the partner VPC and update route tables to resolve the overlap.
Why wrong: VPC peering cannot handle overlapping CIDRs, and route-table changes cannot resolve IP address overlap safely.
- D
Deploy a NAT gateway in VPC A and route the partner’s traffic to the NLB through the NAT gateway.
Why wrong: NAT gateways enable outbound internet egress for instances, not private, deterministic access to internal load balancers across accounts.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. 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. A key principle to apply: aWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.. 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.
A company hosts an internal HTTP API on an internal Network Load Balancer (NLB) in VPC A. A partner team in a separate AWS account needs access, but their VPC CIDR overlaps with VPC A, so VPC peering is not feasible.
Security requirements state the API must remain non-public (no internet-facing ALB/NLB) and access must use AWS private networking.
Which architecture best meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 AWS PrivateLink by creating a VPC endpoint service backed by the NLB in VPC A, then create an interface VPC endpoint in the partner VPC with appropriate endpoint access controls.
Option A is correct because AWS PrivateLink allows you to expose an internal NLB as a VPC endpoint service in VPC A, and the partner team can create an interface VPC endpoint in their own VPC to connect privately. This works even with overlapping CIDR blocks because PrivateLink uses ENIs with private IPs from the endpoint subnet, not routing based on CIDR. The traffic stays within the AWS network and never traverses the internet, meeting the non-public requirement.
Key principle: AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.
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 AWS PrivateLink by creating a VPC endpoint service backed by the NLB in VPC A, then create an interface VPC endpoint in the partner VPC with appropriate endpoint access controls.
Why this is correct
PrivateLink exposes the service privately via interface endpoints, avoiding peering and keeping the NLB non-public for secure partner access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.
- ✗
Expose the NLB to the internet with an Elastic IP and restrict access using the NLB’s security group only.
Why it's wrong here
Making the NLB internet-facing violates non-public requirements, even if security groups limit allowed sources.
- ✗
Use VPC peering between VPC A and the partner VPC and update route tables to resolve the overlap.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering cannot handle overlapping CIDRs, and route-table changes cannot resolve IP address overlap safely.
- ✗
Deploy a NAT gateway in VPC A and route the partner’s traffic to the NLB through the NAT gateway.
Why it's wrong here
NAT gateways enable outbound internet egress for instances, not private, deterministic access to internal load balancers across accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think VPC peering is always the simplest solution, but they overlook the CIDR overlap restriction, or they assume a NAT gateway can provide inbound private connectivity, which it cannot.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PrivateLink uses a service provider's NLB as the service resource, and the consumer creates an interface VPC endpoint that attaches an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) in their subnet with a private IP from that subnet's range. Traffic between the endpoint and the NLB traverses the AWS backbone, and the consumer can use endpoint policies and security groups to control access. A common real-world scenario is when organizations need to share internal services across accounts without exposing them to the internet or dealing with CIDR overlap issues.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.
- It uses interface VPC endpoints (ENIs) in the consumer's VPC.
- PrivateLink inherently supports overlapping VPC CIDR ranges.
- The service provider uses a VPC endpoint service backed by an NLB.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review aWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Secure Architectures — This question tests Design Secure Architectures — AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS PrivateLink by creating a VPC endpoint service backed by the NLB in VPC A, then create an interface VPC endpoint in the partner VPC with appropriate endpoint access controls. — Option A is correct because AWS PrivateLink allows you to expose an internal NLB as a VPC endpoint service in VPC A, and the partner team can create an interface VPC endpoint in their own VPC to connect privately. This works even with overlapping CIDR blocks because PrivateLink uses ENIs with private IPs from the endpoint subnet, not routing based on CIDR. The traffic stays within the AWS network and never traverses the internet, meeting the non-public requirement.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review aWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
AWS PrivateLink enables private connectivity to services across VPCs and accounts.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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