Quick Answer
The answer is that the security group for the database instance lacks an inbound rule allowing traffic on the SAP HANA port. This is because security groups act as a virtual firewall at the instance level, and even if the application server’s security group permits outbound traffic, the database’s security group must explicitly authorize inbound TCP connections on the correct HANA port—typically 30015 for the system database or 3NN13 for tenant databases. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of stateful security group behavior and the specific port requirements for HANA connectivity; a common trap is assuming that allowing outbound traffic from the app server is sufficient, when in fact the database’s inbound rule is the missing link. Remember the mnemonic: “Inbound for HANA, or no handshake can happen.”
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of design of sap workloads on aws. 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.
An SAP application server on an EC2 instance is unable to connect to the SAP HANA database on another EC2 instance. Both instances are in the same VPC and security groups allow traffic. What 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.
The VPC does not have an Internet Gateway
Why wrong: Internet is not needed for internal communication.
The security group for the database instance does not allow inbound traffic on the HANA port
HANA uses port 3XX13; must be allowed.
Network ACLs are blocking traffic
Why wrong: NACLs are stateless but security groups are more common issue.
The route table does not have a local route
Why wrong: Default local route exists.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The security group for the database instance does not allow inbound traffic on the HANA port
Option B is correct because the most likely cause is that the security group attached to the SAP HANA database instance does not have an inbound rule allowing traffic on the SAP HANA database port (typically 3<span>00</span>15 for HANA system DB or 3<span>NN</span>13 for tenant DBs). Even if the security group for the application server allows outbound traffic, the database security group must explicitly permit inbound TCP traffic from the application server's security group or IP address on the correct HANA port. Without this rule, the database will reject the connection at the instance level.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The VPC does not have an Internet Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Internet is not needed for internal communication.
The security group for the database instance does not allow inbound traffic on the HANA port
Why this is correct
HANA uses port 3XX13; must be allowed.
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.
Network ACLs are blocking traffic
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless but security groups are more common issue.
The route table does not have a local route
Why it's wrong here
Default local route exists.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse security groups (stateful, instance-level) with Network ACLs (stateless, subnet-level) and assume that if the security group allows outbound traffic from the app server, the connection should work, forgetting that the database's security group must also allow inbound traffic on the specific HANA port.
Detailed technical explanation
SAP HANA uses SQL port 3<span>00</span>15 for the system database and 3<span>NN</span>13 for tenant databases (where NN is the instance number, e.g., 00). Security groups act as a virtual firewall at the instance level, and their rules are stateful—meaning if you allow inbound traffic, the outbound response is automatically allowed. However, if the inbound rule is missing, the connection attempt (TCP SYN) is silently dropped, resulting in a timeout or 'connection refused' error. In contrast, Network ACLs are stateless and require explicit rules for both inbound and outbound traffic, but they operate at the subnet level and are less frequently the cause of such issues in a well-configured VPC.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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
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FAQ
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The security group for the database instance does not allow inbound traffic on the HANA port — Option B is correct because the most likely cause is that the security group attached to the SAP HANA database instance does not have an inbound rule allowing traffic on the SAP HANA database port (typically 3<span>00</span>15 for HANA system DB or 3<span>NN</span>13 for tenant DBs). Even if the security group for the application server allows outbound traffic, the database security group must explicitly permit inbound TCP traffic from the application server's security group or IP address on the correct HANA port. Without this rule, the database will reject the connection at the instance level.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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