- A
Expose the NLB with an Internet Gateway route and restrict access using a security group attached to the NLB.
Why wrong: Security groups cannot be attached directly to NLBs for this purpose in the way implied, and exposing the service via the public internet violates the private-only requirement. PrivateLink is designed for private connectivity without relying on public exposure.
- B
Create a VPC endpoint (interface endpoint) in the consumer VPC that points to the service name published by the provider account, and limit allowed clients using the endpoint’s security group rules.
PrivateLink uses an interface VPC endpoint in the consumer VPC (using the provider’s published service name). Traffic stays on the AWS network, not the public internet. Security groups on the interface endpoint provide least-privilege control over which client resources can reach the endpoint, and the provider side can also restrict who can connect.
- C
Create an S3 Gateway endpoint in the consumer VPC and store the service hostname in SSM Parameter Store so clients can resolve privately.
Why wrong: S3 Gateway endpoints are unrelated to reaching an internal NLB-based application service. Using SSM for hostname resolution does not create private network connectivity to the service, nor does it implement PrivateLink.
- D
Use a bastion host in the provider VPC and allow the consumer VPC to SSH to it; from there, the consumer makes HTTP calls to the NLB.
Why wrong: Bastion hosts add operational burden and a new security boundary. PrivateLink is specifically meant to provide direct private connectivity to services without relying on SSH jumping. The described approach is more complex and less scalable.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: aWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.. 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.
Your company has an internal service hosted behind a Network Load Balancer (NLB) in VPC 10.0.0.0/16. A consumer team in a different VPC (10.1.0.0/16) must call the service without using the public internet. You want private connectivity using AWS PrivateLink. Which configuration best enables least-privilege access while keeping the traffic private?
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.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Create a VPC endpoint (interface endpoint) in the consumer VPC that points to the service name published by the provider account, and limit allowed clients using the endpoint’s security group rules.
Option B is correct because AWS PrivateLink uses an interface VPC endpoint in the consumer VPC to connect privately to a Network Load Balancer (NLB) in the provider VPC, keeping traffic within the AWS network. The endpoint’s security group acts as a stateful firewall to restrict which clients in the consumer VPC can access the service, enforcing least-privilege access. This eliminates exposure to the public internet and avoids complex routing or gateway configurations.
Key principle: AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Expose the NLB with an Internet Gateway route and restrict access using a security group attached to the NLB.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups cannot be attached directly to NLBs for this purpose in the way implied, and exposing the service via the public internet violates the private-only requirement. PrivateLink is designed for private connectivity without relying on public exposure.
- ✓
Create a VPC endpoint (interface endpoint) in the consumer VPC that points to the service name published by the provider account, and limit allowed clients using the endpoint’s security group rules.
Why this is correct
PrivateLink uses an interface VPC endpoint in the consumer VPC (using the provider’s published service name). Traffic stays on the AWS network, not the public internet. Security groups on the interface endpoint provide least-privilege control over which client resources can reach the endpoint, and the provider side can also restrict who can connect.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.
- ✗
Create an S3 Gateway endpoint in the consumer VPC and store the service hostname in SSM Parameter Store so clients can resolve privately.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Gateway endpoints are unrelated to reaching an internal NLB-based application service. Using SSM for hostname resolution does not create private network connectivity to the service, nor does it implement PrivateLink.
- ✗
Use a bastion host in the provider VPC and allow the consumer VPC to SSH to it; from there, the consumer makes HTTP calls to the NLB.
Why it's wrong here
Bastion hosts add operational burden and a new security boundary. PrivateLink is specifically meant to provide direct private connectivity to services without relying on SSH jumping. The described approach is more complex and less scalable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Gateway Endpoints (which only work with S3 and DynamoDB) with Interface Endpoints (which support PrivateLink for services behind an NLB), leading them to incorrectly select Option C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS PrivateLink uses an interface VPC endpoint powered by AWS PrivateLink, which creates an elastic network interface (ENI) in the consumer VPC with a private IP from the consumer’s subnet. The NLB in the provider VPC must be configured with a VPC endpoint service (using AWS PrivateLink) that publishes a service name; the consumer then creates an endpoint pointing to that name. Traffic flows via the AWS backbone, bypassing the internet, and the endpoint’s security group can restrict inbound traffic to specific source IPs or security group IDs, enabling fine-grained access control.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.
- Interface endpoints create ENIs with private IPs in consumer VPC subnets.
- Traffic over PrivateLink remains entirely within the AWS network.
- Security groups on the interface endpoint control client access to the service.
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
AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.
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.
Review aWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a VPC endpoint (interface endpoint) in the consumer VPC that points to the service name published by the provider account, and limit allowed clients using the endpoint’s security group rules. — Option B is correct because AWS PrivateLink uses an interface VPC endpoint in the consumer VPC to connect privately to a Network Load Balancer (NLB) in the provider VPC, keeping traffic within the AWS network. The endpoint’s security group acts as a stateful firewall to restrict which clients in the consumer VPC can access the service, enforcing least-privilege access. This eliminates exposure to the public internet and avoids complex routing or gateway configurations.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review aWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "least". 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?
AWS PrivateLink uses interface VPC endpoints for private connectivity.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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