- A
Use a Direct Connect gateway and a public VIF with a route to S3 prefix lists
Why wrong: A public VIF provides connectivity to AWS public services over the internet edge; traffic does not stay entirely private as it goes through the AWS public endpoints.
- B
Use a Direct Connect gateway and a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3
VPC Gateway Endpoints for S3 allow private connectivity from within the VPC. Combined with a private VIF, traffic to S3 stays within the AWS network without internet.
- C
Use a VPN connection over Direct Connect to access S3
Why wrong: A VPN over Direct Connect adds unnecessary complexity and encryption overhead. VPC endpoints are simpler and more cost-effective.
- D
Use a Transit Gateway with a private VIF and route S3 traffic through a NAT instance
Why wrong: Transit Gateway is used for routing between VPCs and on-premises, but for S3 access, VPC endpoints are still needed. Using a NAT instance would force traffic through an instance, adding cost and complexity.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to use a Direct Connect gateway and a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3. This works because a private virtual interface connects your on-premises network directly to a VPC, and a Gateway Endpoint for S3 allows traffic destined for S3 to stay within the AWS backbone, never leaving the AWS network. On the SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine Direct Connect with VPC endpoints to enforce private, internet-free routing—a common trap is assuming a public VIF or NAT gateway is needed, which would break the requirement. Remember that Gateway Endpoints are free and use route table entries, while Interface Endpoints use private IPs; for S3, always choose Gateway Endpoints with Direct Connect. A useful memory tip: "Private VIF plus Gateway Endpoint equals no internet exit."
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.. 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 company has an on-premises data center connected to AWS via an AWS Direct Connect private virtual interface (VIF). The SysOps administrator needs to ensure that all traffic between the on-premises network and Amazon S3 in the same AWS Region stays within the AWS network and does not traverse the internet. Which solution should the administrator implement?
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
Use a Direct Connect gateway and a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3
Option B is correct because a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3 (Gateway Endpoints) ensures that traffic from on-premises to S3 stays within the AWS network. The private VIF provides connectivity to the VPC, and the Gateway Endpoint routes S3 traffic through the AWS backbone without traversing the internet. This combination meets the requirement of keeping traffic within the AWS network.
Key principle: Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a Direct Connect gateway and a public VIF with a route to S3 prefix lists
Why it's wrong here
A public VIF provides connectivity to AWS public services over the internet edge; traffic does not stay entirely private as it goes through the AWS public endpoints.
- ✓
Use a Direct Connect gateway and a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3
Why this is correct
VPC Gateway Endpoints for S3 allow private connectivity from within the VPC. Combined with a private VIF, traffic to S3 stays within the AWS network without internet.
Related concept
Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.
- ✗
Use a VPN connection over Direct Connect to access S3
Why it's wrong here
A VPN over Direct Connect adds unnecessary complexity and encryption overhead. VPC endpoints are simpler and more cost-effective.
- ✗
Use a Transit Gateway with a private VIF and route S3 traffic through a NAT instance
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse public VIF with private VIF, thinking a public VIF is required for AWS service access, but Gateway Endpoints allow private VIF to access S3 without internet exposure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Gateway Endpoints for S3 use prefix lists and route tables to direct S3 traffic through the AWS backbone, bypassing the internet. The private VIF establishes a dedicated connection from on-premises to the VPC, and the Gateway Endpoint ensures that traffic to S3 is routed via the AWS network without needing a public IP or internet gateway. In real-world scenarios, this setup is critical for compliance with data residency requirements or to avoid data transfer costs over the internet.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.
- S3 Gateway Endpoints provide private connectivity to S3 from within a VPC.
- Direct Connect Gateway allows a private VIF to connect to multiple VPCs.
- Traffic to S3 via private VIF and Gateway Endpoint stays entirely within AWS network.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC., then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Direct Connect gateway and a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3 — Option B is correct because a private VIF with VPC endpoints for S3 (Gateway Endpoints) ensures that traffic from on-premises to S3 stays within the AWS network. The private VIF provides connectivity to the VPC, and the Gateway Endpoint routes S3 traffic through the AWS backbone without traversing the internet. This combination meets the requirement of keeping traffic within the AWS network.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC., then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Direct Connect private VIF extends on-premises network into a VPC.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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