Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon CloudWatch with Direct Connect metrics. This is correct because Direct Connect publishes detailed metrics such as connection state, egress and ingress bit rates, and error counts directly to CloudWatch, enabling real-time monitoring of intermittent connectivity issues. When a routing problem is suspected, these metrics, combined with VPC Flow Logs, allow you to correlate traffic drops with specific BGP or link-level anomalies. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between diagnostic tools: CloudTrail records API calls but not network metrics, VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic but lack Direct Connect-specific data, and Trusted Advisor offers recommendations rather than real-time diagnostics. A common trap is choosing VPC Flow Logs alone, forgetting that Direct Connect metrics are the primary source for link-layer health. Memory tip: think “Direct Connect metrics = CloudWatch, not just flow logs” — the connection itself is monitored by CloudWatch, while flow logs monitor the traffic inside the connection.
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 is using an AWS Direct Connect connection to access its VPC. The company is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues. The Solutions Architect suspects a routing problem. Which AWS service can help diagnose the issue by providing real-time metrics and logs?
Amazon CloudWatch with Direct Connect metrics
CloudWatch provides metrics like connection state and BGP status.
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: Flow Logs show traffic but not Direct Connect health.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls, not network performance.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why wrong: Trusted Advisor gives best practice checks, not real-time diagnostics.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon CloudWatch with Direct Connect metrics
Option C is correct because AWS Direct Connect provides metrics and logs via CloudWatch and can be used with VPC Flow Logs. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not provide network metrics. Option B is wrong because VPC Flow Logs alone do not provide Direct Connect specific metrics. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor provides recommendations but not real-time diagnostics.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon CloudWatch with Direct Connect metrics
Why this is correct
CloudWatch provides metrics like connection state and BGP status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
Flow Logs show traffic but not Direct Connect health.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not network performance.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Trusted Advisor gives best practice checks, not real-time diagnostics.
Common exam traps
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Flow Logs show traffic but not Direct Connect health.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon CloudWatch with Direct Connect metrics — Option C is correct because AWS Direct Connect provides metrics and logs via CloudWatch and can be used with VPC Flow Logs. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not provide network metrics. Option B is wrong because VPC Flow Logs alone do not provide Direct Connect specific metrics. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor provides recommendations but not real-time diagnostics.
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.
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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