- A
Replace the ALB with a Network Load Balancer, configure a TLS listener, and use target group health checks over HTTPS.
Why wrong: NLB with TLS listener terminates TLS and forwards unencrypted TCP traffic to targets, failing end-to-end encryption. Additionally, HTTPS health checks would require instances to handle HTTPS, potentially needing application changes.
- B
Configure the ALB to use a TLS listener and forward traffic to the target group using the TCP protocol on port 443.
Correct. ALB with HTTPS listener and HTTPS target group ensures encryption between ALB and instances. Requires only web server configuration (e.g., installing a certificate) on instances, not code changes.
- C
Install a self-signed certificate on each EC2 instance, configure the ALB target group to use HTTPS, and upload the self-signed certificate to AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) for the ALB to trust.
Why wrong: Invalid because ACM does not accept self-signed certificates for trust; the ALB cannot verify the instance's self-signed certificate for health checks or secure communication.
- D
Place AWS CloudFront in front of the ALB and configure CloudFront to use TLS 1.2, with the ALB still using HTTP.
Why wrong: Traffic from CloudFront to ALB is HTTP (not encrypted), and ALB to instances remains HTTP, so no end-to-end encryption.
SAP-C02 End-to-End Encryption Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: end-to-End Encryption. 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 healthcare company runs a HIPAA-compliant web application on AWS. The application consists of an Application Load Balancer (ALB), a fleet of Amazon EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group, and an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database with Multi-AZ. The security team requires that all data in transit be encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher. The current setup uses an SSL certificate on the ALB to terminate HTTPS, but traffic between the ALB and EC2 instances is over HTTP. The company wants to enforce end-to-end encryption without changing the application code. Which solution meets these requirements?
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 use a TLS listener and forward traffic to the target group using the TCP protocol on port 443.
Option B is correct. By configuring the ALB with a TLS listener (HTTPS) and forwarding traffic to the target group using the HTTPS protocol on port 443, the traffic between ALB and EC2 instances is encrypted. This provides end-to-end encryption without changing application code, as the instances only need a valid certificate and web server configuration for HTTPS (which is a configuration change, not code). Option A is incorrect because an NLB with a TLS listener terminates TLS at the NLB and forwards unencrypted traffic to targets via TCP, breaking end-to-end encryption. Health checks over HTTPS would require instances to handle HTTPS, which may need application changes. Option C is incorrect because AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) does not accept self-signed certificates for trust; it requires certificates signed by a trusted certificate authority. Option D is incorrect because traffic between CloudFront and ALB remains unencrypted (HTTP), and ALB to instances is also HTTP, so end-to-end encryption is not achieved.
Key principle: End-to-End Encryption
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, configure a TLS listener, and use target group health checks over HTTPS.
- ✓
Configure the ALB to use a TLS listener and forward traffic to the target group using the TCP protocol on port 443.
Why this is correct
Correct. ALB with HTTPS listener and HTTPS target group ensures encryption between ALB and instances. Requires only web server configuration (e.g., installing a certificate) on instances, not code changes.
Related concept
End-to-End Encryption
- ✗
Install a self-signed certificate on each EC2 instance, configure the ALB target group to use HTTPS, and upload the self-signed certificate to AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) for the ALB to trust.
Why it's wrong here
Invalid because ACM does not accept self-signed certificates for trust; the ALB cannot verify the instance's self-signed certificate for health checks or secure communication.
- ✗
Place AWS CloudFront in front of the ALB and configure CloudFront to use TLS 1.2, with the ALB still using HTTP.
Why it's wrong here
Traffic from CloudFront to ALB is HTTP (not encrypted), and ALB to instances remains HTTP, so no end-to-end encryption.
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
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
- End-to-End Encryption
- Application Load Balancer (ALB)
- TLS Termination and Re-encryption
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
End-to-End Encryption
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 end-to-End Encryption, 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?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — End-to-End Encryption.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the ALB to use a TLS listener and forward traffic to the target group using the TCP protocol on port 443. — Option B is correct. By configuring the ALB with a TLS listener (HTTPS) and forwarding traffic to the target group using the HTTPS protocol on port 443, the traffic between ALB and EC2 instances is encrypted. This provides end-to-end encryption without changing application code, as the instances only need a valid certificate and web server configuration for HTTPS (which is a configuration change, not code). Option A is incorrect because an NLB with a TLS listener terminates TLS at the NLB and forwards unencrypted traffic to targets via TCP, breaking end-to-end encryption. Health checks over HTTPS would require instances to handle HTTPS, which may need application changes. Option C is incorrect because AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) does not accept self-signed certificates for trust; it requires certificates signed by a trusted certificate authority. Option D is incorrect because traffic between CloudFront and ALB remains unencrypted (HTTP), and ALB to instances is also HTTP, so end-to-end encryption is not achieved.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review end-to-End Encryption, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
End-to-End Encryption
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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