Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A startup runs an HTTP/2 API that also supports WebSocket connections. They need path-based routing to separate microservices (for example, /api/* to Service A and /metrics/* to Service B) and want TLS terminated at the load balancer. Which AWS option best meets these requirements while maintaining high request performance?
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.
A
Distractor review
Use an Amazon NLB and configure target groups with HTTP health checks and listener rules for path-based routing.
An NLB operates at Layer 4 (TCP/UDP). It can forward connections and perform basic health checks, but it does not inspect HTTP request paths to make Layer 7 routing decisions like /api/* vs /metrics/*. Path-based routing requires a Layer 7 load balancer such as the ALB.
B
Best answer
Use an Amazon ALB with HTTP/2 support, WebSocket upgrades enabled, and listener rules for host/path-based routing.
An ALB supports Layer 7 features needed here: it can terminate TLS on an HTTPS listener, evaluate HTTP host/path routing rules, and it supports WebSocket by allowing HTTP Upgrade behavior through the ALB to the targets. ALBs also support HTTP/2 on HTTPS listeners, which helps maintain high request performance.
C
Distractor review
Use Amazon API Gateway with a single backend integration and rely on the client to route requests to different microservices.
API Gateway can route requests, but the scenario specifically asks for the best load-balancing choice to perform TLS termination and path-based routing between microservices. Offloading routing responsibility to clients adds complexity and does not satisfy the intent of centralizing path-based routing and connection handling at the load balancer layer.
D
Distractor review
Use Amazon CloudFront without an ALB, and route requests to microservices using only custom origin headers.
Custom origin headers alone do not implement path-based routing between microservices. To route based on paths and forward WebSocket traffic correctly, CloudFront would require additional behaviors (and often more configuration) to map request paths to distinct origins. In contrast, an ALB provides the required Layer 7 path routing and TLS termination directly for the application services behind it.
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
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 5
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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: Use an Amazon ALB with HTTP/2 support, WebSocket upgrades enabled, and listener rules for host/path-based routing. — Use an Application Load Balancer (ALB). This requirement needs Layer 7 routing (path-based rules like /api/* and /metrics/*), TLS termination at the load balancer, and support for WebSocket upgrade connections while also handling HTTP/2. An ALB supports TLS termination on HTTPS listeners, evaluates host/path listener rules, and supports WebSocket upgrade behavior to the registered targets. An NLB cannot route based on HTTP paths because it works at Layer 4, and API Gateway/CloudFront are not the most direct match to the prompt’s intent of using a load balancer for TLS termination plus Layer 7 routing to microservices. Why others are wrong: NLBs cannot inspect HTTP paths, so they cannot implement /api/* vs /metrics/* routing. API Gateway could implement routing, but the question’s intent is to pick the load balancer that centralizes TLS termination and path-based request steering to microservices with minimal added client complexity. CloudFront can use behaviors for routing, but “custom origin headers only” does not provide path-based routing, and it’s not as direct a fit for an ALB-style microservice dispatch pattern with WebSockets and TLS termination at the load balancer in front of ECS/EKS services.
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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