- A
Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
Gateway endpoints for S3 and Interface endpoints for CloudWatch Logs provide private connectivity within the VPC, no internet required.
- B
Place the application behind a public Application Load Balancer
Why wrong: A public ALB would expose the application to the internet, violating the no-internet requirement.
- C
Set up a NAT gateway in a public subnet and route traffic through it
Why wrong: A NAT gateway enables outbound internet access, which is not allowed because the requirement prohibits public internet access.
- D
Use AWS PrivateLink to connect to CloudWatch Logs and S3
Why wrong: AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other AWS accounts. For CloudWatch Logs, you need an Interface endpoint; for S3, a Gateway endpoint. PrivateLink is not needed for these services.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs. This combination is correct because Gateway endpoints use route table entries to provide private, direct connectivity to S3 without traversing the internet, while Interface endpoints leverage AWS PrivateLink to attach CloudWatch Logs to your VPC via an elastic network interface with a private IP, keeping all traffic within the AWS network. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between endpoint types for different services—a common trap is assuming both services use the same endpoint type, or mistakenly choosing a NAT gateway or public ALB, which would violate the no-internet requirement. Remember that S3 and DynamoDB are the only services supporting Gateway endpoints, while most other AWS services, including CloudWatch Logs, require Interface endpoints. A quick memory tip: think “Gateway for storage, Interface for everything else.”
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 company is designing a new application that will process sensitive financial transactions. The application must be deployed in a VPC with no public internet access. The application needs to send logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and store files in Amazon S3. Which set of actions should be taken to meet these requirements without allowing internet access?
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 Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
Option A is correct because VPC endpoints (Gateway for S3 and Interface for CloudWatch Logs) allow private connectivity to AWS services without internet access. Option B is wrong because a NAT gateway provides outbound internet access, which is not allowed. Option C is wrong because a public ALB would expose the application to the internet. Option D is wrong because AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other accounts, not for CloudWatch Logs; the correct endpoint is Interface endpoint.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
- ✗
Place the application behind a public Application Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
A public ALB would expose the application to the internet, violating the no-internet requirement.
- ✗
Set up a NAT gateway in a public subnet and route traffic through it
- ✗
Use AWS PrivateLink to connect to CloudWatch Logs and S3
Why it's wrong here
AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other AWS accounts. For CloudWatch Logs, you need an Interface endpoint; for S3, a Gateway endpoint. PrivateLink is not needed for these services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs — Option A is correct because VPC endpoints (Gateway for S3 and Interface for CloudWatch Logs) allow private connectivity to AWS services without internet access. Option B is wrong because a NAT gateway provides outbound internet access, which is not allowed. Option C is wrong because a public ALB would expose the application to the internet. Option D is wrong because AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other accounts, not for CloudWatch Logs; the correct endpoint is Interface endpoint.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.
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