- A
The BU account's route table does not have a route to the NAT gateway's private IP. Add a route via the VPC peering connection.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the route tables have been verified as correctly configured. A missing route would affect traffic but has been ruled out.
- B
The security group attached to the NAT gateway's ENI does not allow incoming traffic from the BU private subnet. Update the security group to allow inbound traffic from the BU subnet CIDR.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because NAT gateways do not allow user modification of security groups. The security group on the NAT gateway's ENI is managed by AWS and cannot be updated. The issue must involve another layer, such as VPC peering state.
- C
The VPC peering connection is not in the 'active' state. Recreate the VPC peering connection.
This is correct. If the VPC peering connection is not active (e.g., pending acceptance, expired, or deleted), traffic from the BU's VPC to the shared services VPC will be blocked, affecting only that BU's outbound internet access via the central NAT gateway.
- D
The NAT gateway's Elastic IP is not attached. Attach an Elastic IP to the NAT gateway.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the NAT gateway already requires an Elastic IP to function. If the EIP were missing, the NAT gateway would not work at all, affecting all BUs, not just one.
SAP-C02 VPC Peering Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: vPC Peering. 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 large enterprise with multiple business units (BUs) uses AWS Organizations with a shared services account and BU-specific accounts. Each BU account has a VPC with multiple subnets. The shared services account hosts a central NAT gateway that provides outbound internet access to all BU private subnets via VPC peering. Recently, the network team noticed that traffic from one BU's private subnet is being blocked by the security group in the shared services account. They verified that the route tables are correctly configured. What is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The VPC peering connection is not in the 'active' state. Recreate the VPC peering connection.
VPC peering connections must be in the 'active' state to route traffic between VPCs. If the peering connection for a specific BU's VPC is not active (e.g., pending acceptance, expired, or deleted), traffic from that BU's private subnet to the shared services VPC will be blocked. Since route tables and the NAT gateway's configuration are correct, the most likely cause is an inactive VPC peering connection. Option B is incorrect because NAT gateways do not support user-modifiable security groups; AWS manages the security group on the NAT gateway's ENI and it cannot be updated by customers. Option A contradicts the verified route tables. Option D would affect all BUs, not just one.
Key principle: VPC Peering
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The BU account's route table does not have a route to the NAT gateway's private IP. Add a route via the VPC peering connection.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the route tables have been verified as correctly configured. A missing route would affect traffic but has been ruled out.
- ✗
The security group attached to the NAT gateway's ENI does not allow incoming traffic from the BU private subnet. Update the security group to allow inbound traffic from the BU subnet CIDR.
- ✓
The VPC peering connection is not in the 'active' state. Recreate the VPC peering connection.
Why this is correct
This is correct. If the VPC peering connection is not active (e.g., pending acceptance, expired, or deleted), traffic from the BU's VPC to the shared services VPC will be blocked, affecting only that BU's outbound internet access via the central NAT gateway.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
VPC Peering
- ✗
The NAT gateway's Elastic IP is not attached. Attach an Elastic IP to the NAT gateway.
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
- VPC Peering
- NAT Gateway
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
VPC Peering
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 vPC Peering, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — VPC Peering.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VPC peering connection is not in the 'active' state. Recreate the VPC peering connection. — VPC peering connections must be in the 'active' state to route traffic between VPCs. If the peering connection for a specific BU's VPC is not active (e.g., pending acceptance, expired, or deleted), traffic from that BU's private subnet to the shared services VPC will be blocked. Since route tables and the NAT gateway's configuration are correct, the most likely cause is an inactive VPC peering connection. Option B is incorrect because NAT gateways do not support user-modifiable security groups; AWS manages the security group on the NAT gateway's ENI and it cannot be updated by customers. Option A contradicts the verified route tables. Option D would affect all BUs, not just one.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review vPC Peering, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
VPC Peering
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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