Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Your company needs a high-throughput, low-latency TCP service using a custom binary protocol. Requirements: preserve the original client source IP for rate limiting, keep latency minimal, and use TCP health checks. The current setup uses an Application Load Balancer and performance is inconsistent. Which load balancer choice best meets these requirements?
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
Keep the Application Load Balancer (ALB), because ALBs also preserve client source IP for TCP protocols.
ALBs are optimized for Layer 7 (HTTP/HTTPS) routing semantics. For a custom binary TCP protocol, ALB behavior and feature set do not align as well with pure Layer 4 TCP health checking and consistently low-latency forwarding. Using ALB for generic TCP services is commonly a poor fit compared to an NLB.
B
Best answer
Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TCP listeners so traffic stays at Layer 4 and the original source IP is preserved.
NLB is designed for Layer 4 TCP/UDP traffic with very low latency and high throughput. It supports TCP health checks and preserves the original client source IP by default, which enables accurate client-IP-based rate limiting for a custom TCP protocol.
C
Distractor review
Use Amazon API Gateway because it preserves client source IP and provides TCP health checks for all protocols.
API Gateway is intended for HTTP APIs, REST APIs, and WebSockets. It is not designed to proxy arbitrary custom TCP binary protocols with Layer 4 TCP health checks, so it does not satisfy the core protocol/health-check and latency requirements.
D
Distractor review
Use Amazon CloudFront with an S3 origin, because CloudFront reduces latency for TCP-based protocols.
CloudFront is primarily an HTTP(S) distribution service and does not function as a Layer 4 TCP load balancer for a custom TCP binary protocol with TCP health checks. S3 origins are also not an appropriate backend for a live TCP service response path.
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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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
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a IoT ingestion API. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure? The design must avoid adding custom operational scripts.
Question 4
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a claims portal. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Network Load Balancer (NLB) with TCP listeners so traffic stays at Layer 4 and the original source IP is preserved. — A Network Load Balancer best matches the requirements because it operates at Layer 4 for TCP traffic, supports TCP health checks, and preserves the original client source IP (enabling correct rate limiting). An ALB is oriented toward Layer 7 HTTP routing, and API Gateway/CloudFront are not intended as Layer 4 TCP load balancers for custom binary protocols. (A) ALB is optimized for HTTP/HTTPS (Layer 7) and is not the ideal choice for a generic custom TCP binary protocol with TCP health checks and strict source-IP-based rate limiting. (C) API Gateway is not built to serve arbitrary custom TCP protocols with TCP health checks. (D) CloudFront and S3 are not a substitute for an L4 TCP load balancer/backend serving a custom binary TCP service.
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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