- A
Application Load Balancer (ALB) using HTTP/HTTPS listeners with host-based routing
Why wrong: 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
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
Classic Load Balancer (CLB) configured for TCP health checks only
Why wrong: 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
API Gateway with a VPC Link to forward raw TCP traffic
Why wrong: 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is the Network Load Balancer (NLB) using TCP listeners. This is the correct choice because an NLB operates at Layer 4 of the OSI model, handling raw TCP traffic without inspecting application-layer headers, and it preserves the original client source IP address by default—a critical requirement for auditing non-HTTP workloads. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between load balancer types: the Application Load Balancer (ALB) terminates client connections and replaces the source IP, while the NLB passes it through unchanged. A common trap is choosing an ALB for TCP traffic, but remember that ALB only supports HTTP/HTTPS and cannot preserve source IP for non-HTTP protocols. For a quick memory tip: think "NLB for TCP, IP stays with me"—the NLB keeps the client’s IP address intact as the traffic flows through.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing 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.
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?
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
Network Load Balancer (NLB) using TCP listeners
A Network Load Balancer (NLB) is the best fit because it operates at Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) and preserves the original client source IP address by default, which is required for auditing. It can distribute raw TCP traffic across multiple services without inspecting application-layer headers, making it ideal for non-HTTP TCP workloads.
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.
- ✗
Application Load Balancer (ALB) using HTTP/HTTPS listeners with host-based routing
Why it's wrong here
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.
- ✓
Network Load Balancer (NLB) using TCP listeners
Why this is correct
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Classic Load Balancer (CLB) configured for TCP health checks only
Why it's wrong here
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.
- ✗
API Gateway with a VPC Link to forward raw TCP traffic
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume an Application Load Balancer can handle any TCP traffic because of its 'listener' terminology, but ALB strictly requires HTTP/HTTPS protocols and cannot forward raw TCP streams.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NLBs preserve the client source IP by using the same IP address in the TCP handshake and forwarding packets at the flow level without modifying the IP header. This is achieved because the NLB does not terminate the TCP connection; it acts as a transparent proxy, passing the original source IP to the backend. In contrast, ALBs terminate the client connection and establish a new one to the target, which changes the source IP unless you rely on proxy protocol (NLB) or X-Forwarded-For (ALB).
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 High-Performing Architectures — This question tests Design High-Performing Architectures — 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 — A Network Load Balancer (NLB) is the best fit because it operates at Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) and preserves the original client source IP address by default, which is required for auditing. It can distribute raw TCP traffic across multiple services without inspecting application-layer headers, making it ideal for non-HTTP TCP workloads.
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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