Quick Answer
The correct answer is Amazon CloudFront, along with AWS WAF and AWS Shield Advanced. CloudFront improves both security and performance for an Application Load Balancer by caching content at edge locations to reduce latency and offload traffic, while also providing built-in DDoS protection at the network edge. AWS WAF integrates with CloudFront or the ALB to filter malicious web requests, and AWS Shield Advanced adds enhanced, always-on DDoS mitigation. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to layer security and performance services around an ALB, often appearing in scenarios about protecting web applications from common exploits and traffic spikes. A common trap is confusing Route 53’s DNS routing or Direct Connect’s private connectivity with direct security or performance benefits for the ALB itself. Memory tip: think of the “edge triad” — CloudFront for speed and DDoS, WAF for web exploits, Shield for advanced DDoS — all working together to protect and accelerate your ALB.
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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 THREE AWS services can be used to improve security and performance for a web application that uses an Application Load Balancer? (Select three.)
AWS Shield Advanced
Shield Advanced provides enhanced DDoS protection.
AWS WAF
WAF protects the ALB from web attacks.
Amazon Route 53
Why wrong: Route 53 is DNS, not directly improving security or performance.
Amazon CloudFront
CloudFront provides caching and DDoS protection.
AWS Direct Connect
Why wrong: Direct Connect is for private connectivity, not security/performance for web apps.
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 Shield Advanced
Option A (AWS WAF) is correct for security, protecting against web exploits. Option B (Amazon CloudFront) is correct for performance via caching and DDoS protection. Option D (AWS Shield Advanced) is correct for enhanced DDoS protection. Option C (AWS Direct Connect) is for dedicated connectivity, not directly related. Option E (Amazon Route 53) is DNS, not directly for security/performance of the ALB.
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 Shield Advanced
Why this is correct
Shield Advanced provides enhanced DDoS protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS WAF
Why this is correct
WAF protects the ALB from web attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon Route 53
Why it's wrong here
Route 53 is DNS, not directly improving security or performance.
Amazon CloudFront
Why this is correct
CloudFront provides caching and DDoS protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is for private connectivity, not security/performance for web apps.
Common exam traps
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: AWS Shield Advanced — Option A (AWS WAF) is correct for security, protecting against web exploits. Option B (Amazon CloudFront) is correct for performance via caching and DDoS protection. Option D (AWS Shield Advanced) is correct for enhanced DDoS protection. Option C (AWS Direct Connect) is for dedicated connectivity, not directly related. Option E (Amazon Route 53) is DNS, not directly for security/performance of the ALB.
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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