Quick Answer
The answer is VPC Flow Logs, the correct AWS feature for capturing IP traffic information at the VPC level to monitor network traffic to and from an EC2 instance. This is because VPC Flow Logs record metadata about IP traffic flowing across network interfaces, including source and destination IPs, ports, protocols, and whether packets were accepted or rejected by security groups or network ACLs. For the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between monitoring tools—a common trap is confusing VPC Flow Logs with AWS CloudTrail (which logs API calls) or Amazon Inspector (which scans for vulnerabilities). Remember, Flow Logs operate at the network interface level and are ideal for troubleshooting connectivity issues like blocked traffic or asymmetric routing. A helpful memory tip: think of Flow Logs as a “network flight recorder” that captures every packet’s journey, not just the control plane actions.
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 SysOps administrator needs to monitor network traffic to and from an EC2 instance for troubleshooting. Which AWS feature captures IP traffic information at the VPC level?
VPC Flow Logs
VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic metadata.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs stores logs, but does not capture network traffic.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: CloudTrail records API activity, not network traffic.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config records resource configuration changes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
VPC Flow Logs
VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic information for network interfaces within a VPC, including source/destination IPs, ports, protocols, and packet accept/reject decisions. This feature operates at the VPC level and is specifically designed for network traffic monitoring and troubleshooting, making it the correct choice for capturing IP traffic information to and from an EC2 instance.
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.
VPC Flow Logs
Why this is correct
VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic metadata.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs stores logs, but does not capture network traffic.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail records API activity, not network traffic.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config records resource configuration changes.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse VPC Flow Logs with CloudWatch Logs or CloudTrail, mistakenly thinking that CloudTrail captures network traffic or that CloudWatch Logs is the primary service for network monitoring, when in fact VPC Flow Logs are the dedicated feature for IP traffic capture at the VPC level.
Detailed technical explanation
VPC Flow Logs capture metadata about IP traffic, including the 5-tuple (source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port, protocol), as well as packet counts, byte counts, and action (ACCEPT/REJECT) based on security group and network ACL rules. They are published to Amazon CloudWatch Logs or Amazon S3, and can be used with third-party analytics tools for deep packet inspection without capturing actual payload data, which is critical for troubleshooting connectivity issues like asymmetric routing or blocked traffic.
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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Networking and Content Delivery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: VPC Flow Logs — VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic information for network interfaces within a VPC, including source/destination IPs, ports, protocols, and packet accept/reject decisions. This feature operates at the VPC level and is specifically designed for network traffic monitoring and troubleshooting, making it the correct choice for capturing IP traffic information to and from an EC2 instance.
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 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.
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