A company serves a public API through a CloudFront distribution. They want to automatically block common web exploits (for example, OWASP Top 10–style threats) without building custom detection logic. Which AWS service configuration best meets the goal?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
Enable AWS WAF with AWS Managed Rules and associate the web ACL with the CloudFront distribution.
AWS WAF inspects HTTP(S) requests and applies allow/block decisions based on rule matches. AWS Managed Rules provide prebuilt protections for common threat patterns, and attaching the WAF web ACL to CloudFront applies filtering at the edge.
Distractor review
Enable AWS Shield Advanced only; it fully replaces the need for WAF rule evaluation.
Shield Advanced focuses on DDoS attack protection. It does not provide request-by-request exploit filtering based on WAF rule sets.
Distractor review
Attach a security group rule to the ALB to block malicious patterns based on HTTP request bodies.
Security groups filter based on network-layer fields (for example, IPs, ports, protocols). They do not inspect HTTP payload contents to detect and block web exploit patterns.
Distractor review
Use Security Hub to block requests automatically when it detects suspicious activity.
Security Hub aggregates security findings and posture. It does not directly enforce runtime request blocking for web traffic the way WAF web ACL rules do.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
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Question 2
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable AWS WAF with AWS Managed Rules and associate the web ACL with the CloudFront distribution. — AWS WAF is designed to inspect HTTP(S) requests and apply allow/block logic based on rule evaluations. AWS Managed Rules provide curated rule groups aimed at common web threats, which reduces the need to build custom detection logic. By associating a WAF web ACL with the CloudFront distribution, the protection happens at the edge, filtering malicious requests before they reach the origin/API. Option B is incorrect because Shield Advanced addresses DDoS mitigation, not exploit detection and blocking at the HTTP request level. Option C is incorrect because security groups operate at the network layer and cannot analyze HTTP request bodies. Option D is incorrect because Security Hub reports findings for review and prioritization, but it is not a real-time web request blocking mechanism.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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