← SCS-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 1,257 of 1,738

Infrastructure Security →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is to place a NAT Gateway in the public subnet and configure the private subnet route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway. This architecture works because the NAT Gateway, residing in a public subnet with an Internet Gateway, translates private IP addresses to its own Elastic IP for outbound traffic, while the private subnet’s route table directs all internet-bound traffic to the NAT Gateway, ensuring no inbound connections can initiate from the internet. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to balance outbound internet access with strict inbound security, often appearing as a trap where candidates confuse NAT Gateways with Internet Gateways or bastion hosts. A common mistake is selecting a VPC endpoint, but remember endpoints only work for specific AWS services, not general internet downloads. Memory tip: NAT Gateway = outbound only, like a one-way door for patches.

SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question

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 VPC with public and private subnets. The application servers in the private subnets need to download patches from the internet. Which architecture provides the highest security while allowing internet access?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
Place a NAT Gateway in the public subnet and configure the private subnet route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway
NAT Gateway enables outbound internet from private subnets while preventing inbound connections.
B
Create a VPC endpoint for Amazon S3 and route traffic through it
Why wrong: VPC endpoints are for specific AWS services, not general internet access.
C
Attach an internet gateway to the private subnet and configure the route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the internet gateway
Why wrong: This would make the private subnet public, allowing inbound internet traffic.
D
Place a bastion host in the public subnet and configure the private instances to route internet traffic through it
Why wrong: Bastion hosts are for inbound management, not outbound internet; this would be inefficient and insecure.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Place a NAT Gateway in the public subnet and configure the private subnet route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway

Option D is correct because a NAT Gateway in a public subnet allows outbound internet access from private subnets while blocking inbound traffic. Option A is wrong because an internet gateway attached to the private subnet would allow inbound traffic. Option B is wrong because a bastion host is for SSH access, not for outbound internet. Option C is wrong because a VPC endpoint is for private connectivity to AWS services, not general internet.

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.

✓
Place a NAT Gateway in the public subnet and configure the private subnet route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway
Why this is correct
NAT Gateway enables outbound internet from private subnets while preventing inbound connections.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
✗
Create a VPC endpoint for Amazon S3 and route traffic through it
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are for specific AWS services, not general internet access.
✗
Attach an internet gateway to the private subnet and configure the route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the internet gateway
Why it's wrong here
This would make the private subnet public, allowing inbound internet traffic.
✗
Place a bastion host in the public subnet and configure the private instances to route internet traffic through it
Why it's wrong here
Bastion hosts are for inbound management, not outbound internet; this would be inefficient and insecure.

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 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.

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.

Related SCS-C02 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Threat Detection and Incident Response practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.

Security Logging and Monitoring practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.

Identity and Access Management practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.

Management and Security Governance practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.

Infrastructure Security practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.

Data Protection practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.

SCS-C02 fundamentals practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.

SCS-C02 scenario practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.

SCS-C02 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free SCS-C02 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

SCS-C02 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SCS-C02 question test?

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: Place a NAT Gateway in the public subnet and configure the private subnet route table to send 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway — Option D is correct because a NAT Gateway in a public subnet allows outbound internet access from private subnets while blocking inbound traffic. Option A is wrong because an internet gateway attached to the private subnet would allow inbound traffic. Option B is wrong because a bastion host is for SSH access, not for outbound internet. Option C is wrong because a VPC endpoint is for private connectivity to AWS services, not general internet.

What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

This SCS-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SCS-C02 exam.