Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Cloud Map. This is the correct choice because Cloud Map is a fully managed service discovery resource that integrates natively with Amazon ECS and Fargate, allowing microservices to dynamically register and discover each other using DNS or HTTP API calls within the VPC. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to implement service discovery for containerized workloads without manual overhead, often contrasting Cloud Map against Route 53 private hosted zones—which require manual management—or ELB, which handles load balancing rather than discovery. A common trap is selecting Route 53 private hosted zones because they can technically work, but Cloud Map automates health checks and instance registration, making it the recommended approach for ECS with Fargate. Memory tip: think “Cloud Map = automatic service discovery map,” while Route 53 is a manual map you draw yourself.
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.
A company is designing a new microservices application using Amazon ECS with Fargate. The services need to communicate securely within the VPC. Which approach should be used for service discovery?
Amazon Route 53 private hosted zones with health checks
Why wrong: Possible but requires manual DNS management.
AWS Cloud Map
Managed service discovery for microservices.
VPC peering connections between services
Why wrong: For VPC connectivity, not service discovery.
Application Load Balancer with path-based routing
Why wrong: For traffic routing, not service discovery.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Cloud Map
Option A is correct because AWS Cloud Map is a fully managed service discovery service that works with ECS. Option B (ELB) is for load balancing, not discovery. Option C (Route 53 private hosted zones) can be used but requires manual management. Option D (VPC peering) is for connecting VPCs, not service discovery.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Route 53 private hosted zones with health checks
Why it's wrong here
Possible but requires manual DNS management.
AWS Cloud Map
Why this is correct
Managed service discovery for microservices.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
VPC peering connections between services
Why it's wrong here
For VPC connectivity, not service discovery.
Application Load Balancer with path-based routing
Why it's wrong here
For traffic routing, not service discovery.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
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
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: AWS Cloud Map — Option A is correct because AWS Cloud Map is a fully managed service discovery service that works with ECS. Option B (ELB) is for load balancing, not discovery. Option C (Route 53 private hosted zones) can be used but requires manual management. Option D (VPC peering) is for connecting VPCs, not service discovery.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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