Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Direct Connect, the service that creates a private network connection between a VPC and an on-premises data center over dedicated physical lines. This is correct because AWS Direct Connect bypasses the public internet entirely, using physical Ethernet cables at an AWS Direct Connect location to establish a dedicated, low-latency link that offers consistent bandwidth and higher reliability than internet-based VPNs. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of secure hybrid networking—specifically, how to isolate traffic from the public internet for compliance or sensitive workloads. A common trap is confusing AWS Direct Connect with a Site-to-Site VPN; remember that Direct Connect uses physical lines, not encrypted tunnels over the internet. For a memory tip, think “Direct = Dedicated physical lines, no internet detour.”
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.
Which AWS service can be used to create a private network connection between a VPC and an on-premises data center over dedicated physical lines?
AWS Transit Gateway
Why wrong: Transit Gateway connects VPCs, not on-premises via dedicated lines.
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why wrong: VPN uses public internet, not dedicated lines.
AWS Direct Connect
Direct Connect provides dedicated physical connection.
VPC Peering
Why wrong: VPC Peering connects VPCs, not on-premises.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Direct Connect
AWS Direct Connect is the correct service because it establishes a dedicated, private network connection from an on-premises data center to a VPC using physical Ethernet cables routed through an AWS Direct Connect location. This bypasses the public internet entirely, providing consistent latency, higher bandwidth, and a more reliable connection than internet-based options.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Transit Gateway connects VPCs, not on-premises via dedicated lines.
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why it's wrong here
VPN uses public internet, not dedicated lines.
AWS Direct Connect
Why this is correct
Direct Connect provides dedicated physical connection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
VPC Peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC Peering connects VPCs, not on-premises.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse AWS Site-to-Site VPN with a dedicated connection, but VPNs always traverse the public internet and do not provide the physical isolation or consistent performance of Direct Connect.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS Direct Connect uses industry-standard 802.1Q VLANs to isolate traffic across a single physical connection, supporting multiple virtual interfaces (VIFs) for public and private connectivity. The connection is established via a cross-connect at a Direct Connect location, and the underlying physical layer is typically a single-mode fiber optic cable, with bandwidth options ranging from 50 Mbps to 100 Gbps. In a real-world scenario, enterprises often combine Direct Connect with a VPN as a backup to ensure high availability while maintaining low latency for critical workloads.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Direct Connect — AWS Direct Connect is the correct service because it establishes a dedicated, private network connection from an on-premises data center to a VPC using physical Ethernet cables routed through an AWS Direct Connect location. This bypasses the public internet entirely, providing consistent latency, higher bandwidth, and a more reliable connection than internet-based options.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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