- A
Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink.
Encryption of cardholder data in transit is required.
- B
Use VPC endpoints to keep traffic within the AWS network.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints are a best practice but not a specific PCI DSS requirement.
- C
Implement network segmentation using subnets and security groups.
PCI DSS requires segmentation to isolate cardholder data.
- D
Use a single Availability Zone to reduce complexity.
Why wrong: PCI DSS does not require multi-AZ, but single AZ is not a design factor for security.
- E
Enable VPC Flow Logs to capture network traffic metadata.
Logging and monitoring network traffic is required for PCI DSS.
Question 749 of 1,746
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 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
✓
Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink.
Option A is correct because PCI DSS Requirement 4.1 mandates that cardholder data transmitted across open, public networks must be encrypted. Using VPN (IPsec) or AWS PrivateLink ensures that traffic between VPCs is encrypted in transit, meeting this compliance requirement. This approach also avoids exposing data to the public internet.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use VPC endpoints to keep traffic within the AWS network.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are a best practice but not a specific PCI DSS requirement.
- ✓
Implement network segmentation using subnets and security groups.
Why this is correct
PCI DSS requires segmentation to isolate cardholder data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a single Availability Zone to reduce complexity.
Why it's wrong here
PCI DSS does not require multi-AZ, but single AZ is not a design factor for security.
- ✓
Enable VPC Flow Logs to capture network traffic metadata.
Why this is correct
Logging and monitoring network traffic is required for PCI DSS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume VPC endpoints alone satisfy encryption requirements, but PCI DSS demands encryption in transit (e.g., TLS or IPsec), not just network isolation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PCI DSS Requirement 1.3.4 specifically requires network segmentation to isolate cardholder data environments (CDE) from non-CDE systems. Subnets and security groups (Option C) enforce this segmentation at the network and host level, while VPC Flow Logs (Option E) provide the audit trail needed for Requirement 10 (monitor and log all access to network resources). Under the hood, security groups act as stateful firewalls, and Flow Logs capture metadata at the VPC, subnet, or ENI level, logging allowed and denied traffic for forensic analysis.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encrypt traffic between VPCs using VPN or AWS PrivateLink. — Option A is correct because PCI DSS Requirement 4.1 mandates that cardholder data transmitted across open, public networks must be encrypted. Using VPN (IPsec) or AWS PrivateLink ensures that traffic between VPCs is encrypted in transit, meeting this compliance requirement. This approach also avoids exposing data to the public internet.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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