- A
Install SSL certificates on each EC2 instance and configure the ALB to use TCP passthrough.
Why wrong: The ALB would not terminate HTTPS; encryption is end-to-end but requires instance certificates.
- B
Configure the ALB with an HTTPS listener and a target group that uses HTTPS as the protocol.
This ensures traffic between ALB and instances is encrypted.
- C
Use a Network Load Balancer with TLS listeners and target groups.
Why wrong: NLB supports TLS but requires certificates on targets for end-to-end encryption.
- D
Configure security groups to allow only HTTPS traffic.
Why wrong: Security groups filter traffic but do not encrypt it.
Question 1,088 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 wants to ensure that all data transmitted between its EC2 instances and an Application Load Balancer (ALB) is encrypted. Which configuration should be applied?
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
✓
Configure the ALB with an HTTPS listener and a target group that uses HTTPS as the protocol.
Option B is correct because it establishes end-to-end encryption between clients and the ALB (via HTTPS listener) and between the ALB and EC2 instances (via HTTPS target group). This ensures that data transmitted over both legs of the connection is encrypted using TLS, meeting the requirement that all data between the EC2 instances and the ALB is encrypted.
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.
- ✗
Install SSL certificates on each EC2 instance and configure the ALB to use TCP passthrough.
Why it's wrong here
The ALB would not terminate HTTPS; encryption is end-to-end but requires instance certificates.
- ✓
Configure the ALB with an HTTPS listener and a target group that uses HTTPS as the protocol.
Why this is correct
This ensures traffic between ALB and instances is encrypted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a Network Load Balancer with TLS listeners and target groups.
Why it's wrong here
NLB supports TLS but requires certificates on targets for end-to-end encryption.
- ✗
Configure security groups to allow only HTTPS traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups filter traffic but do not encrypt it.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'encryption in transit' with 'network access control' (security groups) or assume that any load balancer with TLS listeners guarantees encryption between the load balancer and targets, but only an ALB with HTTPS target groups re-encrypts traffic to the instances, while an NLB with TLS passthrough does not re-encrypt.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an ALB is configured with an HTTPS listener and an HTTPS target group, the ALB terminates the client TLS connection, decrypts the request, and then initiates a new TLS connection to the target EC2 instance. This allows the ALB to inspect and modify traffic (e.g., add headers) while ensuring end-to-end encryption. In contrast, a Network Load Balancer with TLS passthrough preserves the original TLS session end-to-end, which means the NLB cannot inspect the traffic, and the target instances must handle the TLS termination.
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.
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 SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the ALB with an HTTPS listener and a target group that uses HTTPS as the protocol. — Option B is correct because it establishes end-to-end encryption between clients and the ALB (via HTTPS listener) and between the ALB and EC2 instances (via HTTPS target group). This ensures that data transmitted over both legs of the connection is encrypted using TLS, meeting the requirement that all data between the EC2 instances and the ALB is encrypted.
What should I do if I get this SCS-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
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.
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