- A
Security group outbound rules are blocking return traffic.
Why wrong: Security groups are stateful; return traffic is allowed regardless of outbound rules.
- B
The VPC peering connection is throttling traffic.
Why wrong: No VPC peering is mentioned; both servers are in the same VPC.
- C
Network ACLs do not have rules to allow ephemeral ports for return traffic.
NACLs are stateless; failing to allow ephemeral ports can cause intermittent connectivity during high traffic.
- D
Security group inbound rules are misconfigured.
Why wrong: Security groups are stateful; if outbound is allowed, return traffic is automatically allowed.
Question 119 of 1,733
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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.
An SAP system running on AWS is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues between the SAP application servers and the database server. Both are in the same VPC but different subnets. The security groups and network ACLs are correctly configured. The issue occurs only during peak hours. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Network ACLs do not have rules to allow ephemeral ports for return traffic.
The intermittent connectivity issue during peak hours points to a resource exhaustion problem. Network ACLs are stateless, meaning they must explicitly allow both inbound and outbound traffic, including ephemeral ports (typically 1024-65535) used for return traffic. If the NACL outbound rules do not allow these ephemeral ports, return traffic from the database server to the application server will be dropped, especially under high load when many connections are established simultaneously.
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.
- ✗
Security group outbound rules are blocking return traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are stateful; return traffic is allowed regardless of outbound rules.
- ✗
The VPC peering connection is throttling traffic.
Why it's wrong here
No VPC peering is mentioned; both servers are in the same VPC.
- ✓
Network ACLs do not have rules to allow ephemeral ports for return traffic.
Why this is correct
NACLs are stateless; failing to allow ephemeral ports can cause intermittent connectivity during high traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Security group inbound rules are misconfigured.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are stateful; if outbound is allowed, return traffic is automatically allowed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the stateless nature of network ACLs with the stateful behavior of security groups, assuming that allowing inbound traffic automatically permits return traffic, which is not the case for NACLs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network ACLs are stateless and evaluate rules in numeric order; they require explicit rules for both directions, including ephemeral ports. During peak hours, the number of concurrent connections increases, exhausting the limited ephemeral port range if not properly allowed. This is a common issue when NACLs are used with TCP services like SAP, where the database server responds on a random ephemeral port to the application server's source port.
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 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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Network ACLs do not have rules to allow ephemeral ports for return traffic. — The intermittent connectivity issue during peak hours points to a resource exhaustion problem. Network ACLs are stateless, meaning they must explicitly allow both inbound and outbound traffic, including ephemeral ports (typically 1024-65535) used for return traffic. If the NACL outbound rules do not allow these ephemeral ports, return traffic from the database server to the application server will be dropped, especially under high load when many connections are established simultaneously.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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