This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 network architecture for a critical application that must meet strict compliance requirements. The application consists of Amazon EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group behind an Application Load Balancer. The instances need to access an Amazon RDS database in a different VPC. The company wants to minimize exposure to the internet. Which solution should the company use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a VPC Peering connection between the two VPCs.
Option D is correct because VPC Peering provides a private network connection between VPCs without internet exposure. Option A is wrong because a NATgateway is for outbound internet from private subnets. Option B is wrong because an internet gateway exposes traffic to the internet. Option C is wrong because a VPN connection is typically used for on-premises connectivity and adds complexity.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use a site-to-site VPN connection between the VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
VPN is over the internet and adds latency; VPC Peering is simpler.
✗
Use a NAT gateway in the database VPC and route traffic through it.
Why it's wrong here
NAT gateways are for outbound internet, not inter-VPC connectivity.
✓
Use a VPC Peering connection between the two VPCs.
Why this is correct
VPC Peering provides private connectivity using AWS infrastructure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Use an internet gateway and route traffic over the internet with security groups.
Why it's wrong here
This exposes traffic to the internet, which is not minimized.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SCS-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a VPC Peering connection between the two VPCs. — Option D is correct because VPC Peering provides a private network connection between VPCs without internet exposure. Option A is wrong because a NAT gateway is for outbound internet from private subnets. Option B is wrong because an internet gateway exposes traffic to the internet. Option C is wrong because a VPN connection is typically used for on-premises connectivity and adds complexity.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SCS-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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