- A
Place an Amazon CloudFront distribution in front of the ALB and use signed URLs.
Why wrong: Signed URLs are for CloudFront content, not for custom header validation.
- B
Configure the ALB to forward the custom header to the target group and validate it on the application.
The application can validate the header if forwarded by ALB.
- C
Use AWS WAF to create a rule that inspects the custom header and blocks requests without it.
WAF can inspect HTTP headers and block requests.
- D
Use Amazon Cognito to authenticate users and pass the header.
Why wrong: Cognito provides user authentication but does not inspect custom headers.
- E
Configure the ALB's security group to allow traffic only from known IP addresses.
Why wrong: Security groups filter by IP, not headers.
Question 1,441 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application uses a custom header for authentication. The security team wants to ensure that requests are only accepted from authenticated users. Which TWO actions should the team take?
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
✓
Configure the ALB to forward the custom header to the target group and validate it on the application.
Options B and C are correct. AWS WAF can inspect the custom header and block requests without it (Option C), and the ALB can forward the custom header to the target group where the application can validate it (Option B). Option A is incorrect because using CloudFront with signed URLs would add an extra layer but does not directly validate the custom header. Option D is incorrect because Amazon Cognito is used for authentication and user management, not for custom header validation. Option E is incorrect because security groups operate at the network layer and cannot inspect application headers.
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.
- ✗
Place an Amazon CloudFront distribution in front of the ALB and use signed URLs.
Why it's wrong here
Signed URLs are for CloudFront content, not for custom header validation.
- ✓
Configure the ALB to forward the custom header to the target group and validate it on the application.
Why this is correct
The application can validate the header if forwarded by ALB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use AWS WAF to create a rule that inspects the custom header and blocks requests without it.
Why this is correct
WAF can inspect HTTP headers and block requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Amazon Cognito to authenticate users and pass the header.
Why it's wrong here
Cognito provides user authentication but does not inspect custom headers.
- ✗
Configure the ALB's security group to allow traffic only from known IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups filter by IP, not headers.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the ALB to forward the custom header to the target group and validate it on the application. — Options B and C are correct. AWS WAF can inspect the custom header and block requests without it (Option C), and the ALB can forward the custom header to the target group where the application can validate it (Option B). Option A is incorrect because using CloudFront with signed URLs would add an extra layer but does not directly validate the custom header. Option D is incorrect because Amazon Cognito is used for authentication and user management, not for custom header validation. Option E is incorrect because security groups operate at the network layer and cannot inspect application headers.
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.
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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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