Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A team needs to distribute TCP traffic (not HTTP) across multiple services. The services must see the original client source IP for auditing. Which AWS load balancer is the best fit?
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
Application Load Balancer (ALB) using HTTP/HTTPS listeners with host-based routing
ALB is a Layer 7 (application) load balancer designed for HTTP/HTTPS. It does not natively load balance arbitrary TCP protocols that do not use HTTP semantics.
B
Best answer
Network Load Balancer (NLB) using TCP listeners
NLB is a Layer 4 load balancer that supports TCP and UDP. When the traffic is routed to targets (for example, instance or IP targets), the backend connection maintains the original source IP/port at the networking layer, which supports IP-based auditing without requiring HTTP headers.
C
Distractor review
Classic Load Balancer (CLB) configured for TCP health checks only
CLB is an older generation load balancer. For new designs needing high performance for TCP traffic and modern feature support, NLB is the recommended choice.
D
Distractor review
API Gateway with a VPC Link to forward raw TCP traffic
API Gateway is designed for HTTP APIs (REST/HTTP/WebSocket). It does not provide Layer 4 raw TCP load balancing for arbitrary TCP application protocols.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Network Load Balancer (NLB) using TCP listeners — Choose the Network Load Balancer (NLB). NLB provides Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) load balancing, which matches the requirement for services that speak TCP without HTTP. It also preserves the original client source IP/port information at the connection level to the target, which helps meet auditing requirements without relying on application-layer parsing of HTTP headers. Why others are wrong: ALB is Layer 7 and expects HTTP/HTTPS semantics, so it cannot directly load balance a TCP-only protocol. CLB is not the modern, best-fit option for high-performance TCP architectures. API Gateway does not forward arbitrary raw TCP streams; it fronts HTTP-based APIs.
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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