A dev sandbox currently uses two NAT gateways in each of three Availability Zones, but only one private subnet per AZ needs outbound internet access. What should the architect review first? The design must avoid adding custom operational scripts.
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.
Distractor review
Disabling route tables
Route tables are required for subnet routing.
Distractor review
Replacing every NAT gateway with an internet gateway attached to private subnets
Private subnets cannot use an internet gateway directly without public IP routing.
Distractor review
Moving all workloads to public subnets
This weakens security posture and is not a cost-first best practice.
Best answer
Whether one NAT gateway per AZ is sufficient for the required private subnets
NAT gateways are normally deployed per AZ for resilience; duplicate NAT gateways in the same AZ may be unnecessary.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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More questions from this exam
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Whether one NAT gateway per AZ is sufficient for the required private subnets — NAT gateway count and route-table design should match actual subnet needs while preserving AZ resilience.
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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