- A
A route table for private subnets with a default route pointing to the NAT Gateway.
This route ensures that outbound traffic from private subnets is directed to the NAT Gateway.
- B
An Internet Gateway attached to the VPC.
An Internet Gateway is required for any internet traffic, inbound or outbound, to and from the VPC.
- C
A Virtual Private Gateway (VGW).
Why wrong: A VGW is used for VPN connections to on-premises networks, not for internet access.
- D
A NAT Gateway in a public subnet.
A NAT Gateway enables instances in private subnets to initiate outbound traffic to the internet and receive responses, but prevents inbound connections from the internet.
- E
A VPC endpoint for S3.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints provide private access to AWS services like S3, but do not provide general internet access.
Quick Answer
The answer is a NAT Gateway in a public subnet, an Internet Gateway, and a route table in the private subnet pointing to the NAT Gateway. This combination works because the Internet Gateway provides the VPC’s connection to the internet, while the NAT Gateway, placed in a public subnet, allows instances in private subnets to initiate outbound traffic for updates without exposing them to inbound connections. The private subnet’s route table must have a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the NAT Gateway, ensuring all outbound internet-bound traffic is forwarded correctly. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network isolation versus outbound-only access—a common trap is confusing a NAT Gateway with a NAT Instance or assuming a Virtual Private Gateway or VPC Endpoint can serve this purpose. Remember the mnemonic: “IGW opens the door, NAT Gateway hides the floor, and the route table shows the way out.”
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new 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 designing a new VPC with public and private subnets. The company wants to ensure that instances in the private subnets can download updates from the internet, but cannot be directly accessed from the internet. Which THREE components are required to meet these requirements? (Choose THREE.)
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
A route table for private subnets with a default route pointing to the NAT Gateway.
The correct answers are A, B, and C. Option A is correct because an Internet Gateway allows outbound traffic to the internet. Option B is correct because a NAT Gateway provides outbound internet access to instances in private subnets. Option C is correct because the route table for private subnets must point to the NAT Gateway for default route. Option D is wrong because a Virtual Private Gateway is used for VPN connections, not internet access. Option E is wrong because VPC endpoints are for private access to AWS services, not for internet access.
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.
- ✓
A route table for private subnets with a default route pointing to the NAT Gateway.
- ✓
An Internet Gateway attached to the VPC.
- ✗
A Virtual Private Gateway (VGW).
Why it's wrong here
A VGW is used for VPN connections to on-premises networks, not for internet access.
- ✓
A NAT Gateway in a public subnet.
- ✗
A VPC endpoint for S3.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints provide private access to AWS services like S3, but do not provide general internet access.
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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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
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: A route table for private subnets with a default route pointing to the NAT Gateway. — The correct answers are A, B, and C. Option A is correct because an Internet Gateway allows outbound traffic to the internet. Option B is correct because a NAT Gateway provides outbound internet access to instances in private subnets. Option C is correct because the route table for private subnets must point to the NAT Gateway for default route. Option D is wrong because a Virtual Private Gateway is used for VPN connections, not internet access. Option E is wrong because VPC endpoints are for private access to AWS services, not for internet access.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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