This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An organization needs to encrypt data in transit between an Amazon EC2 instance and an Application Load Balancer (ALB). Which THREE actions should be taken?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the EC2 instance has a valid SSL/TLS certificate installed.
Correct options: B, C, D. Option B is correct because the ALB must have an SSL/TLS certificate to terminate HTTPS. Option C is correct because the ALB should use an HTTPS listener. Option D is correct because the EC2 instance must have a certificate to support HTTPS if traffic is decrypted and re-encrypted, but if the ALB is configured to forward to the instance over HTTPS, the instance needs a certificate. Option A is wrong because security group rules do not encrypt traffic; they allow/deny. Option E is wrong because enabling encryption on the EC2 instance is not automatic; it requires application configuration.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable encryption at rest on the EC2 instance's EBS volumes.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest does not affect data in transit.
✓
Ensure the EC2 instance has a valid SSL/TLS certificate installed.
Why this is correct
Required if ALB forwards traffic over HTTPS to the instance.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Configure the security group to allow only encrypted traffic.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Ensure the EC2 instance has a valid SSL/TLS certificate installed. — Correct options: B, C, D. Option B is correct because the ALB must have an SSL/TLS certificate to terminate HTTPS. Option C is correct because the ALB should use an HTTPS listener. Option D is correct because the EC2 instance must have a certificate to support HTTPS if traffic is decrypted and re-encrypted, but if the ALB is configured to forward to the instance over HTTPS, the instance needs a certificate. Option A is wrong because security group rules do not encrypt traffic; they allow/deny. Option E is wrong because enabling encryption on the EC2 instance is not automatic; it requires application configuration.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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