- A
Configure an HTTPS (port 443) listener using an ACM certificate and update the port 80 listener to redirect to HTTPS (or to block plain HTTP requests).
Client-to-ALB encryption is enforced by terminating TLS on an ALB HTTPS listener. Redirecting or blocking HTTP on port 80 ensures clients cannot successfully establish plaintext HTTP sessions, so all viable paths use HTTPS end-to-end between the client and the load balancer.
- B
Enable S3 default encryption so HTTP requests are automatically encrypted in transit.
Why wrong: S3 default encryption protects data at rest in S3. It does not encrypt network traffic between clients and the ALB, which remains plaintext if users connect to the HTTP listener.
- C
Set the application to encrypt data only after it is received by the ALB.
Why wrong: Encrypting only after the request arrives at the ALB does not protect the hop between the client and the ALB. Plain HTTP would still be used on that leg, violating the requirement for encrypted client connections.
- D
Rely on WAF alone to encrypt HTTP traffic.
Why wrong: AWS WAF is a web application firewall that inspects and filters HTTP requests. It does not provide TLS termination or encryption for client connections; TLS must be configured via HTTPS listeners (for example, on the ALB).
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure an HTTPS listener on port 443 using an ACM certificate and update the existing port 80 listener to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This approach enforces encrypted client connections at the load balancer level by terminating TLS on the ALB, while the redirect rule ensures that any plain HTTP request is automatically forwarded to the secure HTTPS endpoint, eliminating unencrypted traffic without requiring changes to the application itself. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of ALB listener rules and the principle of offloading encryption to the load balancer, a common best practice for securing web applications. A frequent trap is choosing to modify the application code or use a separate reverse proxy, which adds unnecessary complexity; instead, remember that ALBs natively support both HTTPS listeners and HTTP-to-HTTPS redirects as a single, clean configuration. Memory tip: "443 for secure, 80 redirects to secure" — the ALB handles the encryption handshake, not the app.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure 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.
An internal web application must require encrypted client connections. The company currently has an ALB listener on port 80 (HTTP), and users can access the application over plain HTTP. What is the best change to ensure all client traffic uses HTTPS?
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 HTTPS (port 443) listener using an ACM certificate and update the port 80 listener to redirect to HTTPS (or to block plain HTTP requests).
Option A is correct because it uses an HTTPS listener on port 443 with an ACM certificate to enforce encrypted client connections, and redirecting HTTP (port 80) traffic to HTTPS ensures all traffic is encrypted in transit. This is the standard AWS best practice for enforcing HTTPS on an ALB, as it directly controls the listener behavior at the load balancer level without requiring application changes.
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.
- ✓
Configure an HTTPS (port 443) listener using an ACM certificate and update the port 80 listener to redirect to HTTPS (or to block plain HTTP requests).
Why this is correct
Client-to-ALB encryption is enforced by terminating TLS on an ALB HTTPS listener. Redirecting or blocking HTTP on port 80 ensures clients cannot successfully establish plaintext HTTP sessions, so all viable paths use HTTPS end-to-end between the client and the load balancer.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable S3 default encryption so HTTP requests are automatically encrypted in transit.
- ✗
Set the application to encrypt data only after it is received by the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
Encrypting only after the request arrives at the ALB does not protect the hop between the client and the ALB. Plain HTTP would still be used on that leg, violating the requirement for encrypted client connections.
- ✗
Rely on WAF alone to encrypt HTTP traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse encryption at rest (S3 default encryption) with encryption in transit, or assume that WAF or post-receipt encryption can secure the initial client connection, when only a properly configured HTTPS listener with a redirect from HTTP can enforce encrypted client connections.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the ALB terminates TLS at the listener, using the ACM certificate to perform the TLS handshake with the client. The redirect action on the port 80 listener uses an HTTP 301 or 302 redirect status code to instruct the client to resend the request over HTTPS, which is a stateless and efficient method. In a real-world scenario, if the redirect is not configured, clients could still access the application over HTTP, bypassing encryption entirely.
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.
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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 HTTPS (port 443) listener using an ACM certificate and update the port 80 listener to redirect to HTTPS (or to block plain HTTP requests). — Option A is correct because it uses an HTTPS listener on port 443 with an ACM certificate to enforce encrypted client connections, and redirecting HTTP (port 80) traffic to HTTPS ensures all traffic is encrypted in transit. This is the standard AWS best practice for enforcing HTTPS on an ALB, as it directly controls the listener behavior at the load balancer level without requiring application changes.
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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