- A
Enable S3 bucket encryption for application files, since it ensures encryption in transit.
Why wrong: S3 encryption typically protects data at rest in S3. It does not encrypt the network path between clients and the ALB.
- B
Configure an ALB HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, and redirect HTTP (80) to HTTPS (443).
An HTTPS listener terminates TLS at the ALB, encrypting traffic in transit. Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS ensures clients use TLS for all requests.
- C
Turn on default encryption for CloudFront origin access, which automatically encrypts all ALB traffic.
Why wrong: CloudFront origin encryption controls how CloudFront talks to its origin. It does not automatically add TLS encryption for clients directly connecting to the ALB.
- D
Add KMS permissions to the ALB role so TLS is enabled automatically.
Why wrong: KMS permissions are related to encrypting AWS resources at rest. TLS for a listener is enabled through certificate configuration (ACM) and listener settings, not by KMS permissions.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure an HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate and redirect HTTP traffic on port 80 to HTTPS. This works because the HTTPS listener terminates TLS at the load balancer, encrypting all client traffic in transit, while the redirect rule on the HTTP listener automatically upgrades any unencrypted requests to the secure port, ensuring no traffic bypasses encryption. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of enforcing encryption at the edge without modifying the backend application, and a common trap is choosing to install the certificate on the backend instances instead of using ACM on the ALB. Remember that for full encryption enforcement, you need both a secure listener and a redirect action—not just a listener. A helpful memory tip is “Listen on 443, redirect 80” to ensure every client path is encrypted.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An internal web application is exposed through an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The ALB currently has only an HTTP listener on port 80. Security requires that all client traffic be encrypted in transit. What is the best next step?
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
Configure an ALB HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, and redirect HTTP (80) to HTTPS (443).
Option B is correct because the requirement to encrypt all client traffic in transit is met by adding an HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, which enables TLS encryption. Additionally, configuring a redirect from HTTP (port 80) to HTTPS (port 443) ensures that any client attempting to connect over unencrypted HTTP is automatically upgraded to HTTPS, enforcing encryption for all traffic.
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.
- ✗
Enable S3 bucket encryption for application files, since it ensures encryption in transit.
Why it's wrong here
S3 encryption typically protects data at rest in S3. It does not encrypt the network path between clients and the ALB.
- ✓
Configure an ALB HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, and redirect HTTP (80) to HTTPS (443).
Why this is correct
An HTTPS listener terminates TLS at the ALB, encrypting traffic in transit. Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS ensures clients use TLS for all requests.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Turn on default encryption for CloudFront origin access, which automatically encrypts all ALB traffic.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront origin encryption controls how CloudFront talks to its origin. It does not automatically add TLS encryption for clients directly connecting to the ALB.
- ✗
Add KMS permissions to the ALB role so TLS is enabled automatically.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption at rest (e.g., S3 bucket encryption) with encryption in transit, or assume that enabling KMS or CloudFront settings automatically secures ALB traffic without explicit listener configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the ALB terminates TLS at the listener level using a certificate from AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) or IAM, and the redirect action uses an HTTP 301 or 302 response to force clients to use HTTPS. A common real-world scenario is compliance with PCI DSS or HIPAA, which require encryption in transit; simply adding an HTTPS listener without a redirect leaves a window for unencrypted traffic on port 80.
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: Configure an ALB HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, and redirect HTTP (80) to HTTPS (443). — Option B is correct because the requirement to encrypt all client traffic in transit is met by adding an HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate, which enables TLS encryption. Additionally, configuring a redirect from HTTP (port 80) to HTTPS (port 443) ensures that any client attempting to connect over unencrypted HTTP is automatically upgraded to HTTPS, enforcing encryption for all traffic.
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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