- A
AWS WAF
WAF can block SQL injection, XSS, and geo-match rules.
- B
AWS Shield Advanced
Why wrong: Shield Advanced provides DDoS protection, not application layer filtering.
- C
Security groups on the ALB
Why wrong: Security groups are stateful but operate at network layer, not application layer.
- D
Network ACLs on the ALB subnets
Why wrong: NACLs are stateless and operate at layer 3/4, not application layer.
Question 1,347 of 1,748
SCS-C02 AWS WAF Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: aWS WAF. 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 startup is building a web application on AWS. They have an Application Load Balancer (ALB) in front of EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. They want to protect the application from common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. They also need to allow only traffic from certain geographic regions. Which AWS service should they use to achieve these requirements?
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
✓
AWS WAF
Option A is correct because AWS WAF is a web application firewall that helps protect web applications from common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. It also allows you to create rules to block or allow traffic based on geographic regions (geo-match conditions). Option B is incorrect because AWS Shield Advanced provides enhanced DDoS protection, not application-layer filtering. Option C is incorrect because security groups act as a virtual firewall at the instance level but do not inspect application-layer traffic. Option D is incorrect because network ACLs provide stateless filtering at the subnet level and cannot perform deep packet inspection for web exploits.
Key principle: AWS WAF
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AWS WAF
Why this is correct
WAF can block SQL injection, XSS, and geo-match rules.
Related concept
AWS WAF
- ✗
AWS Shield Advanced
Why it's wrong here
Shield Advanced provides DDoS protection, not application layer filtering.
- ✗
Security groups on the ALB
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are stateful but operate at network layer, not application layer.
- ✗
Network ACLs on the ALB subnets
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless and operate at layer 3/4, not application layer.
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
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS WAF
- Web ACL
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
AWS WAF
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review aWS WAF, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — AWS WAF.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS WAF — Option A is correct because AWS WAF is a web application firewall that helps protect web applications from common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. It also allows you to create rules to block or allow traffic based on geographic regions (geo-match conditions). Option B is incorrect because AWS Shield Advanced provides enhanced DDoS protection, not application-layer filtering. Option C is incorrect because security groups act as a virtual firewall at the instance level but do not inspect application-layer traffic. Option D is incorrect because network ACLs provide stateless filtering at the subnet level and cannot perform deep packet inspection for web exploits.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review aWS WAF, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
AWS WAF
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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