SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
A SysOps administrator is configuring a VPC peering connection between two VPCs in the same AWS account and Region. The VPCs have non-overlapping CIDR blocks. The administrator needs to ensure that instances in both VPCs can communicate with each other. Which additional configuration is required after accepting the peering connection?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that VPC peering automatically updates route tables or that security group changes alone are sufficient, when manual route table entries are mandatory.
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
✓
Update the route tables in both VPCs to include a route to the peer VPC's CIDR block through the VPC peering connection.
After establishing a VPC peering connection, you must update the route tables in both VPCs to direct traffic destined for the peer VPC's CIDR block to the peering connection. Security groups must also allow the traffic, but the question asks for the additional configuration specifically required after accepting the peering connection, which is route table updates. Without these routes, communication fails.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a transit gateway and attach both VPCs to it, then route traffic through the transit gateway.
Why it's wrong here
A transit gateway is not required for a simple VPC peering connection. VPC peering provides direct connectivity between two VPCs without a transit gateway. Using a transit gateway would add unnecessary complexity and cost. The question specifically asks for additional configuration after accepting the peering connection, and a transit gateway is an alternative architecture, not a required step.
- ✗
Modify the security groups in both VPCs to allow traffic from the peer VPC's CIDR block.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are stateful and must allow the desired traffic, but they are not the only configuration needed. Even with permissive security groups, traffic will not flow without proper route table entries. Security groups alone do not enable routing between VPCs. Therefore, this is not the complete additional configuration required; route table updates are essential.
- ✓
Update the route tables in both VPCs to include a route to the peer VPC's CIDR block through the VPC peering connection.
Why this is correct
VPC peering connections do not automatically add routes. You must manually add a route in each VPC's route table that points to the peering connection for the peer VPC's CIDR block. This enables traffic to be routed between the VPCs. Without these routes, instances cannot communicate even though the peering connection is active.
- ✗
Configure a VPN connection between the two VPCs to enable communication.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN connection is not needed for VPC peering. VPC peering uses AWS's private network to route traffic directly between VPCs. VPNs are typically used to connect on-premises networks to AWS or to connect VPCs over the internet, but they are not part of the VPC peering setup. This option is incorrect and would introduce unnecessary overhead.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
This SOA-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 SOA-C02 exam.