- A
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet. Create a VPN connection or use Direct Connect virtual interface to connect to on-premises. Configure security groups to allow traffic to on-premises SQL Server and file share.
Provides secure, low-latency access via Direct Connect.
- B
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet with a NAT gateway. Use VPC peering to on-premises.
Why wrong: VPC peering is not for on-premises; requires VPN/Direct Connect.
- C
Place the EC2 instances in a public subnet. Use an internet gateway and configure security groups to allow inbound traffic from on-premises IPs.
Why wrong: Public subnet reduces security and does not leverage Direct Connect.
- D
Use Amazon EC2-Classic and link the instances to on-premises via ClassicLink.
Why wrong: EC2-Classic is deprecated.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to place the EC2 instances in a private subnet and use a Direct Connect virtual interface or VPN connection to securely reach the on-premises SQL Server and file share. This works because a private subnet has no direct internet route, forcing all traffic through the Direct Connect link, which bypasses the public internet and reduces latency—exactly what the company needs given their high-latency internet. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid migration patterns and the distinction between private and public subnet connectivity for phased migrations. A common trap is selecting a NAT gateway or public subnet with an internet gateway, but those are for outbound internet access, not secure on-premises connectivity. Remember the key principle: for hybrid migration with Direct Connect, always keep workloads in private subnets and route traffic through the Direct Connect virtual interface. Memory tip: “Private subnet + Direct Connect = secure hybrid bridge.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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 Windows-based .NET application to AWS. The application uses SQL Server for its database and stores documents on a Windows file share. The company wants to adopt a hybrid model initially, where the application runs on AWS but still connects to on-premises resources for legacy integration. The migration must use a phased approach: first move the compute to AWS, then the database, and finally the file storage. The company has high latency to the internet and wants to optimize data transfer. You have set up a Direct Connect connection. During the first phase, you migrate the web and application servers to Amazon EC2 Windows instances. You need to ensure that the EC2 instances can access the on-premises SQL Server and file share securely. Which combination of actions should be taken?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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. Create a VPN connection or use Direct Connect virtual interface to connect to on-premises. Configure security groups to allow traffic to on-premises SQL Server and file share.
Option A is correct because placing EC2 instances in a private subnet with a VPN or Direct Connect VIF to on-premises allows secure access. Option B is wrong because public subnet and internet gateway is not secure. Option C is wrong because ClassicLink is outdated and not recommended. Option D is wrong because NAT gateway is for outbound internet access, not for on-premises connectivity.
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.
- ✓
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet. Create a VPN connection or use Direct Connect virtual interface to connect to on-premises. Configure security groups to allow traffic to on-premises SQL Server and file share.
Why this is correct
Provides secure, low-latency access via Direct Connect.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Place the EC2 instances in a private subnet with a NAT gateway. Use VPC peering to on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering is not for on-premises; requires VPN/Direct Connect.
- ✗
Place the EC2 instances in a public subnet. Use an internet gateway and configure security groups to allow inbound traffic from on-premises IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Public subnet reduces security and does not leverage Direct Connect.
- ✗
Use Amazon EC2-Classic and link the instances to on-premises via ClassicLink.
Why it's wrong here
EC2-Classic is deprecated.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — 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. Create a VPN connection or use Direct Connect virtual interface to connect to on-premises. Configure security groups to allow traffic to on-premises SQL Server and file share. — Option A is correct because placing EC2 instances in a private subnet with a VPN or Direct Connect VIF to on-premises allows secure access. Option B is wrong because public subnet and internet gateway is not secure. Option C is wrong because ClassicLink is outdated and not recommended. Option D is wrong because NAT gateway is for outbound internet access, not for on-premises connectivity.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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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