- A
Deploy Amazon CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced and enforce TLS 1.3.
Deploying CloudFront with AWS Shield Advanced provides edge DDoS protection and enforces TLS 1.3, making this the correct solution.
- B
Use AWS WAF with rate-based rules and associate it with the ALB.
Why wrong: AWS WAF with rate-based rules can filter web requests but does not absorb DDoS attacks at the edge; it operates at the ALB level, which is behind the edge.
- C
Use an AWS Network Firewall and configure stateful rules to block malicious IPs.
Why wrong: AWS Network Firewall is a managed stateful firewall for VPCs, not for edge DDoS absorption; it is not designed to handle large-scale DDoS attacks.
- D
Enable AWS Shield Standard and use security groups to restrict traffic.
Why wrong: AWS Shield Standard is free but provides limited protection and does not absorb DDoS attacks effectively; security groups control traffic at the instance level, not at the edge.
SAP-C02 AWS Shield Advanced Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: aWS Shield Advanced. 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 financial services company runs a critical application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application is deployed across multiple Availability Zones. The company recently experienced a DDoS attack that overwhelmed the ALB and caused downtime. The security team wants to implement a solution that can absorb DDoS attacks at the edge and only forward legitimate traffic to the ALB. Additionally, the company needs to protect sensitive data in transit using TLS 1.3. What should the 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
Deploy Amazon CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced and enforce TLS 1.3.
Option A is correct. Deploying CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced provides edge-based DDoS protection, absorbing attacks before they reach the ALB. CloudFront supports TLS 1.3, meeting the encryption requirement. Option B is incorrect because AWS WAF with rate-based rules can help filter malicious traffic but does not absorb DDoS attacks at the edge; it works at the ALB level. Option C is incorrect because AWS Network Firewall is a stateful firewall that protects VPCs, not at the edge, and cannot absorb large DDoS attacks. Option D is incorrect because AWS Shield Standard provides basic protection, but it is not sufficient for absorbing DDoS attacks, and security groups do not mitigate DDoS at the edge.
Key principle: AWS Shield Advanced
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Deploy Amazon CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced and enforce TLS 1.3.
Why this is correct
Deploying CloudFront with AWS Shield Advanced provides edge DDoS protection and enforces TLS 1.3, making this the correct solution.
Related concept
AWS Shield Advanced
- ✗
Use AWS WAF with rate-based rules and associate it with the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
AWS WAF with rate-based rules can filter web requests but does not absorb DDoS attacks at the edge; it operates at the ALB level, which is behind the edge.
- ✗
Use an AWS Network Firewall and configure stateful rules to block malicious IPs.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Network Firewall is a managed stateful firewall for VPCs, not for edge DDoS absorption; it is not designed to handle large-scale DDoS attacks.
- ✗
Enable AWS Shield Standard and use security groups to restrict traffic.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Shield Standard is free but provides limited protection and does not absorb DDoS attacks effectively; security groups control traffic at the instance level, not at the edge.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is assuming that any AWS WAF or firewall solution at the ALB level can absorb DDoS attacks, but edge protection (CloudFront + Shield Advanced) is required for absorbing attacks before they reach the ALB.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS Shield Advanced
- Amazon CloudFront
- TLS 1.3
TExam Day Tips
- 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
AWS Shield Advanced
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review aWS Shield Advanced, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — AWS Shield Advanced.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy Amazon CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced and enforce TLS 1.3. — Option A is correct. Deploying CloudFront in front of the ALB with AWS Shield Advanced provides edge-based DDoS protection, absorbing attacks before they reach the ALB. CloudFront supports TLS 1.3, meeting the encryption requirement. Option B is incorrect because AWS WAF with rate-based rules can help filter malicious traffic but does not absorb DDoS attacks at the edge; it works at the ALB level. Option C is incorrect because AWS Network Firewall is a stateful firewall that protects VPCs, not at the edge, and cannot absorb large DDoS attacks. Option D is incorrect because AWS Shield Standard provides basic protection, but it is not sufficient for absorbing DDoS attacks, and security groups do not mitigate DDoS at the edge.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review aWS Shield Advanced, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
AWS Shield Advanced
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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