- A
Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with a UDP listener, configure the NLB to use Elastic IP addresses for static IPs, and use TCP listeners for TLS passthrough to the application servers.
NLB supports UDP listeners and is designed for low-latency, high-performance networking. Associating Elastic IP addresses with the NLB provides stable public IP addresses for firewall allowlisting. For TLS passthrough, using a TCP listener keeps the TLS handshake and encryption between the client and the targets (no load balancer TLS termination).
- B
Use an Application Load Balancer (ALB) with UDP listeners and configure TLS passthrough.
Why wrong: ALB is intended for HTTP/HTTPS Layer 7 traffic and does not provide UDP load balancing suitable for low-latency game traffic. Even with TLS passthrough concepts, the missing UDP support makes ALB incompatible with the requirement.
- C
Use Amazon API Gateway with a WebSocket API and keepalive pings to provide UDP-like low-latency delivery.
Why wrong: API Gateway WebSockets are not a replacement for UDP transport and do not provide the same semantics or latency characteristics required for real-time UDP game traffic. The requirement is specifically UDP for gameplay.
- D
Use a Classic Load Balancer and multiplex UDP over TCP to meet the UDP and low-latency requirements.
Why wrong: Multiplexing UDP over TCP changes transport semantics (datagrams vs. a byte stream) and typically impacts latency and delivery characteristics. Classic ELB is also not an appropriate tool to directly satisfy UDP low-latency forwarding requirements.
Quick Answer
The answer is a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with a UDP listener and Elastic IP addresses. This configuration is correct because the NLB is the only AWS load balancer that natively supports UDP traffic, which is essential for real-time gameplay streaming, and it can be assigned static Elastic IPs for firewall allowlisting. Crucially, the NLB also supports TLS passthrough via TCP listeners, meaning it forwards encrypted traffic directly to the application servers without terminating the TLS handshake, satisfying the requirement for end-to-end encryption. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between Layer 4 and Layer 7 load balancing, with a common trap being the Application Load Balancer, which cannot handle UDP and always terminates TLS. Remember the memory tip: NLB is for "No Termination, Low-level, and Binary" — it passes through TLS and handles UDP, while ALB is for HTTP/HTTPS termination.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing 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. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 game streaming service must use UDP for real-time gameplay traffic. For external firewall allowlisting, the service requires stable, static IP addresses. The TLS handshake must be handled end-to-end by the application servers (the load balancer must not terminate TLS). Which AWS load balancing option best fits 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 a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with a UDP listener, configure the NLB to use Elastic IP addresses for static IPs, and use TCP listeners for TLS passthrough to the application servers.
A Network Load Balancer (NLB) supports UDP listeners, which are required for real-time gameplay traffic, and can be assigned Elastic IP addresses to provide stable, static IPs for firewall allowlisting. Additionally, NLB supports TCP listeners with TLS passthrough, meaning it forwards the encrypted traffic without terminating the TLS handshake, allowing the application servers to handle end-to-end encryption as required.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with a UDP listener, configure the NLB to use Elastic IP addresses for static IPs, and use TCP listeners for TLS passthrough to the application servers.
Why this is correct
NLB supports UDP listeners and is designed for low-latency, high-performance networking. Associating Elastic IP addresses with the NLB provides stable public IP addresses for firewall allowlisting. For TLS passthrough, using a TCP listener keeps the TLS handshake and encryption between the client and the targets (no load balancer TLS termination).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an Application Load Balancer (ALB) with UDP listeners and configure TLS passthrough.
Why it's wrong here
ALB is intended for HTTP/HTTPS Layer 7 traffic and does not provide UDP load balancing suitable for low-latency game traffic. Even with TLS passthrough concepts, the missing UDP support makes ALB incompatible with the requirement.
- ✗
Use Amazon API Gateway with a WebSocket API and keepalive pings to provide UDP-like low-latency delivery.
- ✗
Use a Classic Load Balancer and multiplex UDP over TCP to meet the UDP and low-latency requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume an ALB can handle UDP traffic because it supports WebSocket or HTTP/2, but ALB is strictly Layer 7 and only supports TCP-based protocols, while NLB is the correct choice for UDP and TLS passthrough with static IPs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NLB operates at Layer 4 of the OSI model, preserving the original packet headers and allowing UDP traffic to flow unmodified, which is critical for real-time gaming where packet loss and jitter must be minimized. TLS passthrough on NLB is achieved by configuring a TCP listener with a TLS target group that forwards the encrypted TCP stream directly to the application servers, avoiding the overhead of decryption at the load balancer. Elastic IPs on NLB are allocated per Availability Zone, ensuring that the static IPs remain stable even if the underlying instances change, which simplifies firewall rules for external partners.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design High-Performing Architectures — This question tests Design High-Performing Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with a UDP listener, configure the NLB to use Elastic IP addresses for static IPs, and use TCP listeners for TLS passthrough to the application servers. — A Network Load Balancer (NLB) supports UDP listeners, which are required for real-time gameplay traffic, and can be assigned Elastic IP addresses to provide stable, static IPs for firewall allowlisting. Additionally, NLB supports TCP listeners with TLS passthrough, meaning it forwards the encrypted traffic without terminating the TLS handshake, allowing the application servers to handle end-to-end encryption as required.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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