- A
Replace the ALB with a Network Load Balancer and assign Elastic IPs.
Why wrong: NLB provides static IPs for inbound traffic, but outbound traffic still needs a NAT device.
- B
Assign an Elastic IP address to the Application Load Balancer.
Why wrong: ALBs do not support Elastic IP assignment.
- C
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet and route outbound traffic through a NAT Gateway with an Elastic IP.
NAT Gateway with Elastic IP provides a static source IP for outbound traffic.
- D
Attach an Internet Gateway to the VPC and assign an Elastic IP to it.
Why wrong: Internet Gateways do not have Elastic IPs.
SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing 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 migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application requires a fixed IP address for whitelisting by a third-party service. The application will run on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The company needs a solution that provides a static IP address for outbound traffic. What should a solutions architect do?
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
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet and route outbound traffic through a NAT Gateway with an Elastic IP.
Option D is correct because a NAT Gateway in a public subnet with an Elastic IP provides a static IP for outbound traffic from private instances. Option A is wrong because ALBs do not have Elastic IPs; they use dynamic IPs. Option B is wrong while an NLB can have static IPs, it is for inbound traffic, not outbound. Option C is wrong because an Internet Gateway does not provide a static IP; it is a routing target.
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.
- ✗
Replace the ALB with a Network Load Balancer and assign Elastic IPs.
- ✗
Assign an Elastic IP address to the Application Load Balancer.
Why it's wrong here
ALBs do not support Elastic IP assignment.
- ✓
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet and route outbound traffic through a NAT Gateway with an Elastic IP.
- ✗
Attach an Internet Gateway to the VPC and assign an Elastic IP to it.
Why it's wrong here
Internet Gateways do not have Elastic IPs.
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 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.
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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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet and route outbound traffic through a NAT Gateway with an Elastic IP. — Option D is correct because a NAT Gateway in a public subnet with an Elastic IP provides a static IP for outbound traffic from private instances. Option A is wrong because ALBs do not have Elastic IPs; they use dynamic IPs. Option B is wrong while an NLB can have static IPs, it is for inbound traffic, not outbound. Option C is wrong because an Internet Gateway does not provide a static IP; it is a routing target.
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
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