- A
Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
Gateway endpoints for S3 and Interface endpoints for CloudWatch Logs provide private connectivity within the VPC, no internet required.
- B
Place the application behind a public Application Load Balancer
Why wrong: A public ALB would expose the application to the internet, violating the no-internet requirement.
- C
Set up a NAT gateway in a public subnet and route traffic through it
Why wrong: A NAT gateway enables outbound internet access, which is not allowed because the requirement prohibits public internet access.
- D
Use AWS PrivateLink to connect to CloudWatch Logs and S3
Why wrong: AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other AWS accounts. For CloudWatch Logs, you need an Interface endpoint; for S3, a Gateway endpoint. PrivateLink is not needed for these services.
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.
A company is designing a new application that will process sensitive financial transactions. The application must be deployed in a VPC with no public internet access. The application needs to send logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and store files in Amazon S3. Which set of actions should be taken to meet these requirements without allowing internet access?
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
Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
A Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 allows private connectivity to S3 without traversing the internet, using route table entries. An Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs, powered by AWS PrivateLink, enables private HTTPS connections to the CloudWatch Logs API without requiring a NAT gateway or internet gateway. Together, these endpoints satisfy the requirement for a VPC with no public internet access.
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.
- ✓
Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs
Why this is correct
Gateway endpoints for S3 and Interface endpoints for CloudWatch Logs provide private connectivity within the VPC, no internet required.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Place the application behind a public Application Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
A public ALB would expose the application to the internet, violating the no-internet requirement.
- ✗
Set up a NAT gateway in a public subnet and route traffic through it
- ✗
Use AWS PrivateLink to connect to CloudWatch Logs and S3
Why it's wrong here
AWS PrivateLink is used for services in other AWS accounts. For CloudWatch Logs, you need an Interface endpoint; for S3, a Gateway endpoint. PrivateLink is not needed for these services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume AWS PrivateLink can be used for both S3 and CloudWatch Logs uniformly, but S3 primarily uses Gateway VPC endpoints (not Interface endpoints) for private access, and PrivateLink is the mechanism for Interface endpoints only.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Gateway VPC endpoints for S3 use prefix lists and route table entries to direct traffic to S3 over the AWS network, avoiding NAT or internet gateways. Interface VPC endpoints for CloudWatch Logs use Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) with private IPs in the subnet, leveraging AWS PrivateLink to securely send logs via HTTPS. A subtle behavior is that Gateway endpoints do not support on-premises connectivity via VPN or Direct Connect unless VPC route tables are properly configured, and Interface endpoints require security group rules to allow outbound HTTPS traffic to the endpoint's DNS name.
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
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Create a Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 and an Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs — A Gateway VPC endpoint for S3 allows private connectivity to S3 without traversing the internet, using route table entries. An Interface VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs, powered by AWS PrivateLink, enables private HTTPS connections to the CloudWatch Logs API without requiring a NAT gateway or internet gateway. Together, these endpoints satisfy the requirement for a VPC with no public internet access.
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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