SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are valid methods to protect data in transit between an on-premises data center and AWS? (Choose two.)
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 Site-to-Site VPN
Options B and E are correct. AWS Site-to-Site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, protecting data in transit. AWS Direct Connect with MACsec provides encryption over a private physical connection. Option A is incorrect because CloudFront with HTTPS only encrypts between viewer and edge locations, not necessarily between the origin and edge, and it is not a method to connect on-premises directly to AWS. Option C is incorrect because VPC Peering does not encrypt traffic; it only routes between VPCs. Option D is incorrect because S3 Transfer Acceleration only speeds up transfers using edge locations but does not provide encryption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Amazon CloudFront with HTTPS-only viewer protocol policy
Why it's wrong here
The HTTPS-only viewer protocol policy in CloudFront only enforces TLS between the end user and the CloudFront edge location. It does not encrypt the connection from CloudFront to the origin; that requires a separate origin protocol policy set to HTTPS-only. Additionally, it protects data only while in transit to the edge, leaving data at rest in S3 or backend servers unaddressed, so it is not a complete data protection method.
- ✓
AWS Site-to-Site VPN
Why this is correct
AWS Site-to-Site VPN establishes a secure IPsec tunnel between your on-premises gateway and a virtual private gateway or transit gateway in AWS. Using IKEv2 and AES encryption, it encrypts all IP traffic traversing the public internet, ensuring confidentiality and integrity for data in transit. This is a core service for hybrid cloud connectivity and a valid method for protecting data.
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VPC Peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC Peering is a private network connection that routes traffic between two VPCs using the AWS backbone, but it does not apply any encryption to the packets. The traffic is logically isolated from other customers, yet it lacks confidentiality safeguards like IPsec or TLS. Consequently, VPC peering alone is not a valid data protection mechanism for sensitive workloads unless you add encryption at the application layer.
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S3 Transfer Acceleration
Why it's wrong here
S3 Transfer Acceleration uses AWS edge locations and optimized network paths to improve upload and download speeds to Amazon S3, but it is primarily a performance feature. It does not introduce additional encryption; you must configure TLS or client-side encryption separately to secure data in transit. The service accelerates transfers over the existing S3 API endpoints, not a distinct security layer, so it is not a valid method for protecting data.
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AWS Direct Connect with encryption (MACsec)
Why this is correct
AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated, private network connection from your premises to AWS, and enabling MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) adds link-layer encryption to that connection. MACsec encrypts all data frames between your router and the AWS device, protecting data in transit without impacting higher-layer protocols. This combination is a valid method for meeting encryption requirements, especially for hybrid architectures that need high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity with confidentiality.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.