- A
Use AWS WAF regional scope (associate the web ACL with the ALB resource)
ALBs are regional resources. When you protect an ALB without CloudFront, you should use the regional WAF scope and associate the web ACL directly with the ALB, so WAF can inspect incoming requests destined for that ALB.
- B
Use AWS WAF CloudFront (global) scope and associate the web ACL with the ALB
Why wrong: CloudFront scope is designed for CloudFront distributions. ALB traffic is handled by regional WAF, not the CloudFront (global) scope, so this association path would not provide the intended protection.
- C
Use AWS Shield Advanced and rely on it to inspect payloads for SQL injection and XSS
Why wrong: Shield Advanced primarily focuses on DDoS protection. AWS WAF provides rule-based inspection and blocking of application-layer threats such as SQL injection and XSS via managed rules/custom rules.
- D
Use security groups only, because they can detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
Why wrong: Security groups control network traffic (protocols/ports/IPs). They do not inspect HTTP payload content, so they cannot detect and block application-layer exploit patterns like SQL injection or XSS.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use AWS WAF regional scope. This is correct because AWS WAF operates in two distinct scopes: regional and CloudFront (global), and the regional scope is the only option that allows you to directly associate a web ACL with an Application Load Balancer (ALB) when CloudFront is not in use. By choosing the regional scope, the web ACL is deployed in the same AWS Region as your ALB, enabling it to inspect and filter incoming HTTP/HTTPS requests for common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting at the regional endpoint. On the SAA-C03 exam, this question tests your understanding of how AWS WAF deployment scopes map to different resource types; a common trap is assuming you can always use the global scope, but that option is reserved exclusively for CloudFront distributions. A reliable memory tip is to remember that if you see an ALB without CloudFront, you must go regional—think “ALB = Regional, CloudFront = Global.”
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.
You want to protect an Application Load Balancer (ALB) from common web exploits using AWS WAF. The application is not using CloudFront. Which AWS WAF deployment scope should you choose so the WAF rules apply to the ALB?
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 AWS WAF regional scope (associate the web ACL with the ALB resource)
AWS WAF offers two deployment scopes: regional and CloudFront (global). Since the application is using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) without CloudFront, you must choose the regional scope. This allows you to associate the web ACL directly with the ALB resource, enabling AWS WAF to inspect HTTP/HTTPS requests for common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) at the regional endpoint.
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 AWS WAF regional scope (associate the web ACL with the ALB resource)
Why this is correct
ALBs are regional resources. When you protect an ALB without CloudFront, you should use the regional WAF scope and associate the web ACL directly with the ALB, so WAF can inspect incoming requests destined for that ALB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS WAF CloudFront (global) scope and associate the web ACL with the ALB
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront scope is designed for CloudFront distributions. ALB traffic is handled by regional WAF, not the CloudFront (global) scope, so this association path would not provide the intended protection.
- ✗
Use AWS Shield Advanced and rely on it to inspect payloads for SQL injection and XSS
Why it's wrong here
Shield Advanced primarily focuses on DDoS protection. AWS WAF provides rule-based inspection and blocking of application-layer threats such as SQL injection and XSS via managed rules/custom rules.
- ✗
Use security groups only, because they can detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume AWS WAF always requires CloudFront or that Shield Advanced provides application-layer inspection, but the exam tests the specific requirement that regional WAF is the only option for ALB without CloudFront.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS WAF regional web ACLs are deployed in the same AWS Region as the ALB and integrate directly with the ALB's request processing pipeline. When a web ACL is associated, AWS WAF evaluates each incoming HTTP/HTTPS request against the defined rules before the request reaches the ALB. A real-world scenario where this matters is when you need to block malicious requests at the regional edge without introducing CloudFront latency or cost; for example, a financial services API behind an ALB can use regional WAF to inspect and block SQL injection attempts without adding a CDN layer.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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: Use AWS WAF regional scope (associate the web ACL with the ALB resource) — AWS WAF offers two deployment scopes: regional and CloudFront (global). Since the application is using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) without CloudFront, you must choose the regional scope. This allows you to associate the web ACL directly with the ALB resource, enabling AWS WAF to inspect HTTP/HTTPS requests for common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) at the regional endpoint.
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.
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
This SAA-C03 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAA-C03 exam.
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