Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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
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
Best answer
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
Distractor review
Use AWS WAF CloudFront (global) scope and associate the web ACL with the ALB
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
Distractor review
Use AWS Shield Advanced and rely on it to inspect payloads for SQL injection and XSS
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
Distractor review
Use security groups only, because they can detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
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.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
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?
Question 2
A team wants to run containerized services with AWS-managed orchestration and autoscaling. They do NOT require Kubernetes compatibility. Which AWS service choice is most appropriate to meet these goals?
Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
A team wants to delegate IAM management to developers, but must ensure developers can never grant themselves permissions beyond a specific limit. Which AWS mechanism best matches this requirement?
Question 6
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a healthcare document service. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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) — For AWS WAF protecting an Application Load Balancer, use the regional WAF scope and associate the web ACL directly with the ALB. AWS WAF has different scopes: CloudFront scope applies to CloudFront distributions, while regional scope applies to ALB/API Gateway and other regional endpoints. Since the application is not behind CloudFront, regional scope is required for WAF rules to be evaluated for ALB requests. Why others are wrong: CloudFront scope is intended for CloudFront distributions, not ALB association. Shield Advanced is not a substitute for WAF because it does not provide application-layer rule inspection. Security groups do not inspect HTTP payloads, so they cannot block SQL injection/XSS.
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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