The correct choice is to use an AWS PrivateLink endpoint (interface endpoint) in the company’s VPC to connect to the SaaS provider’s VPC endpoint service. This configuration ensures privatelink traffic encryption because PrivateLink keeps all data within the AWS network, using the AWS backbone to encrypt traffic between the interface endpoint and the Network Load Balancer of the service provider, with no traversal over the public internet. Additionally, the endpoint is isolated to the specific service, meaning no other AWS service or VPC can access the data in transit. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how PrivateLink provides both encryption and isolation by default, without requiring VPNs or additional encryption layers. A common trap is assuming VPC peering or Transit Gateway handles encryption, but neither encrypts traffic by default. Memory tip: think “PrivateLink = private lane” — traffic stays on AWS’s encrypted highway, isolated from all other traffic.
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 uses AWS PrivateLink to connect to a SaaS provider's VPC endpoint service. The security team wants to ensure that traffic between the company's VPC and the SaaS provider's VPC is encrypted in transit and that no other AWS service can access the data. Which configuration meets these requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an AWS PrivateLink endpoint (interface endpoint) in the company's VPC to connect to the SaaS provider's VPC endpoint service.
Option C is correct because PrivateLink uses AWS PrivateLink endpoints, which encrypt traffic within AWS and are isolated. Option A is wrong because VPC peering does not encrypt traffic by default. Option B is wrong because VPN is not needed. Option D is wrong because Transit Gateway is for routing, not encryption.
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.
✗
Use a Site-to-Site VPN connection between the VPC and the SaaS provider's on-premises network.
Why it's wrong here
This assumes the provider has on-premises, which is not the case.
✗
Create a VPC peering connection and use security groups to restrict traffic.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not encrypt traffic between VPCs.
✓
Use an AWS PrivateLink endpoint (interface endpoint) in the company's VPC to connect to the SaaS provider's VPC endpoint service.
Why this is correct
PrivateLink provides encrypted traffic within AWS and isolates the traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an AWS Transit Gateway with inter-region peering.
Why it's wrong here
Transit Gateway does not encrypt traffic by default.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use an AWS PrivateLink endpoint (interface endpoint) in the company's VPC to connect to the SaaS provider's VPC endpoint service. — Option C is correct because PrivateLink uses AWS PrivateLink endpoints, which encrypt traffic within AWS and are isolated. Option A is wrong because VPC peering does not encrypt traffic by default. Option B is wrong because VPN is not needed. Option D is wrong because Transit Gateway is for routing, not encryption.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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