The correct approach is to use Amazon EC2 instances in a Placement Group within a single VPC to ensure low latency. This works because Placement Groups, specifically cluster placement groups, physically pack instances close together inside a single Availability Zone, providing the highest possible network throughput and single-digit millisecond latency between them—critical for a custom TCP protocol that cannot be modified. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to achieve low-latency inter-instance communication without code changes, often as a distractor against options like VPC peering or Direct Connect, which solve different connectivity problems. A common trap is assuming a VPN or dedicated connection is needed, but for intra-VPC traffic, Placement Groups are the native, code-free solution. Memory tip: think “Placement Group = physical proximity for protocol speed.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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 migrating a distributed application that uses a custom TCP protocol between components. The application is deployed on-premises across multiple servers. The company wants to use AWS without modifying the application code. Which approach should the company take to migrate the application while maintaining low latency between components?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Amazon EC2 instances in a Placement Group within a single VPC to ensure low latency.
Option D is correct because using Placement Groups with EC2 instances ensures low latency and high throughput between components, and the application can run unchanged. Option A is incorrect because VPC peering is for connectivity between VPCs, not for low latency within a VPC. Option B is incorrect because Direct Connect improves connectivity to on-premises but not within AWS. Option C is incorrect because a VPN is not needed for within AWS communication.
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.
✓
Use Amazon EC2 instances in a Placement Group within a single VPC to ensure low latency.
Why this is correct
Placement Groups provide low latency and high throughput, and EC2 allows running the application unchanged.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Direct Connect to connect the on-premises servers to AWS and keep the application on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
The goal is to migrate to AWS, not keep on-premises.
✗
Use VPC Peering to connect the application components across different VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not guarantee low latency between components; using a single VPC is better.
✗
Use a VPN connection between the on-premises environment and AWS VPC.
Why it's wrong here
VPN does not provide consistent low latency and is not a migration strategy.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Amazon EC2 instances in a Placement Group within a single VPC to ensure low latency. — Option D is correct because using Placement Groups with EC2 instances ensures low latency and high throughput between components, and the application can run unchanged. Option A is incorrect because VPC peering is for connectivity between VPCs, not for low latency within a VPC. Option B is incorrect because Direct Connect improves connectivity to on-premises but not within AWS. Option C is incorrect because a VPN is not needed for within AWS communication.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is migrating a legacy on-premises application that uses a custom TCP protocol. The application needs to be accessible from the internet while maintaining security. Which AWS service should they use to expose the application without modifying the code?
hard
A.Amazon CloudFront
✓ B.Network Load Balancer (NLB)
C.Amazon API Gateway
D.Application Load Balancer (ALB)
Why B: AWS Network Load Balancer (NLB) supports TCP protocols and can be used without modifying the application. Option A is wrong because ALB is for HTTP/HTTPS. Option B is wrong because API Gateway is for HTTP APIs. Option D is wrong because CloudFront is for content delivery, not TCP.
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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.
Question Discussion
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