The answer is enabling VPC Flow Logs to capture network traffic metadata, as this directly satisfies PCI DSS Requirement 10, which mandates logging and monitoring all access to network devices and cardholder data environments. VPC Flow Logs record IP traffic information within your Amazon VPC, providing the necessary audit trail for detecting anomalies and ensuring compliance. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to map PCI DSS controls to specific AWS services, often appearing alongside traps like selecting VPC endpoints—which, while useful for private connectivity, are not a PCI requirement. A common memory tip is to associate PCI DSS with the three pillars of segmentation, encryption, and logging; when you see logging, think VPC Flow Logs first. Remember the mnemonic “SEL” for Segmentation, Encryption, Logging—and for logging, always pick Flow Logs.
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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.
Which THREE factors should be considered when designing a VPC for a new application that must be compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink.
PCI DSS requires network segmentation, encryption in transit, and logging of network traffic. VPC endpoints allow private connectivity, but are not a PCI requirement per se.
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.
✓
Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink.
Why this is correct
Encryption of cardholder data in transit is required.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink. — PCI DSS requires network segmentation, encryption in transit, and logging of network traffic. VPC endpoints allow private connectivity, but are not a PCI requirement per se.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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.
Question Discussion
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