- A
Use a rate-based rule in AWS WAF to block when requests per IP exceed a configured threshold over the WAF rate-based evaluation window.
Rate-based rules are designed specifically to mitigate abusive traffic by limiting the number of requests from an identified source (typically by IP). When the threshold is exceeded, you can set the rule action to Block (or count first for tuning).
- B
Use an AWS IAM policy on the ALB listener to deny requests when request count exceeds a threshold.
Why wrong: IAM policies do not evaluate dynamic request volume and time windows for incoming HTTP traffic. They control authorization based on identity, not per-source rate behavior.
- C
Enable S3 server access logs for the bucket that stores API responses and alert on high log volume.
Why wrong: S3 access logs record S3 requests for auditing and investigation, not real-time edge enforcement for API requests. They do not block traffic at the WAF layer based on per-IP request rate.
- D
Configure an AWS Lambda authorizer to reject requests after the Nth request from an IP address.
Why wrong: A Lambda authorizer can implement custom logic, but it is not a built-in, purpose-built rate-limiting control for WAF. Implementing accurate per-IP throttling would require additional state management and tuning, which is more complex and less efficient than WAF rate-based rules.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 public API is served through an Application Load Balancer and protected by AWS WAF. The team wants AWS to automatically block clients that send too many requests from the same IP address within a short time window. Which AWS WAF feature is the best fit?
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 rate-based rule in AWS WAF to block when requests per IP exceed a configured threshold over the WAF rate-based evaluation window.
A rate-based rule in AWS WAF is specifically designed to automatically block clients when the number of requests from a single IP address exceeds a configured threshold within a rolling evaluation window (typically 5 minutes). This feature directly addresses the requirement to mitigate high request rates from the same IP, making it the best fit for the described use case.
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 rate-based rule in AWS WAF to block when requests per IP exceed a configured threshold over the WAF rate-based evaluation window.
Why this is correct
Rate-based rules are designed specifically to mitigate abusive traffic by limiting the number of requests from an identified source (typically by IP). When the threshold is exceeded, you can set the rule action to Block (or count first for tuning).
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 AWS IAM policy on the ALB listener to deny requests when request count exceeds a threshold.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies do not evaluate dynamic request volume and time windows for incoming HTTP traffic. They control authorization based on identity, not per-source rate behavior.
- ✗
Enable S3 server access logs for the bucket that stores API responses and alert on high log volume.
Why it's wrong here
S3 access logs record S3 requests for auditing and investigation, not real-time edge enforcement for API requests. They do not block traffic at the WAF layer based on per-IP request rate.
- ✗
Configure an AWS Lambda authorizer to reject requests after the Nth request from an IP address.
Why it's wrong here
A Lambda authorizer can implement custom logic, but it is not a built-in, purpose-built rate-limiting control for WAF. Implementing accurate per-IP throttling would require additional state management and tuning, which is more complex and less efficient than WAF rate-based rules.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse AWS WAF rate-based rules with other AWS services like IAM or Lambda authorizers, mistakenly thinking those can handle network-level rate limiting, when in fact only WAF provides native, automatic IP-based rate blocking.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS WAF rate-based rules use a token bucket algorithm internally, tracking the number of requests from each source IP over a 5-minute sliding window. When the threshold is exceeded, the rule blocks subsequent requests until the request rate drops below the threshold, providing automatic mitigation against DDoS-like traffic patterns. In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used to protect APIs from brute-force attacks or web scraping without manual intervention.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a rate-based rule in AWS WAF to block when requests per IP exceed a configured threshold over the WAF rate-based evaluation window. — A rate-based rule in AWS WAF is specifically designed to automatically block clients when the number of requests from a single IP address exceeds a configured threshold within a rolling evaluation window (typically 5 minutes). This feature directly addresses the requirement to mitigate high request rates from the same IP, making it the best fit for the described use case.
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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