- A
Use VPC peering connections between the VPCs.
Why wrong: VPC peering does not encrypt traffic by default.
- B
Use VPC endpoints to route traffic through AWS PrivateLink.
Why wrong: PrivateLink is for accessing services, not for encrypting inter-VPC traffic.
- C
Set up AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between the VPCs via the transit gateway.
VPN provides encryption for traffic between VPCs.
- D
Configure network ACLs to deny unencrypted traffic.
Why wrong: NACLs do not provide encryption.
Question 1,364 of 1,546
SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.
A company has an AWS account with multiple VPCs connected via a transit gateway. The SysOps administrator needs to ensure that all traffic between VPCs is encrypted in transit. 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
✓
Set up AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between the VPCs via the transit gateway.
Option C is correct because AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between VPCs via a transit gateway can enforce IPsec encryption for all inter-VPC traffic. The transit gateway acts as a central hub, and each VPN connection encrypts traffic using IPsec tunnels, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity in transit. This meets the requirement for encrypted transit between VPCs without relying on third-party appliances.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 VPC peering connections between the VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not encrypt traffic by default.
- ✗
Use VPC endpoints to route traffic through AWS PrivateLink.
Why it's wrong here
PrivateLink is for accessing services, not for encrypting inter-VPC traffic.
- ✓
Set up AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between the VPCs via the transit gateway.
Why this is correct
VPN provides encryption for traffic between VPCs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure network ACLs to deny unencrypted traffic.
Why it's wrong here
NACLs do not provide encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume VPC peering provides encryption by default, but AWS does not encrypt traffic over peering connections; encryption must be explicitly added via VPN or other mechanisms.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Site-to-Site VPN uses IPsec (IKEv1 or IKEv2) to establish encrypted tunnels. When attached to a transit gateway, each VPN connection creates two tunnels for high availability, and the transit gateway routes traffic between VPCs through these encrypted tunnels. In a real-world scenario, this is often used to meet compliance requirements (e.g., PCI DSS, HIPAA) that mandate encryption of all data in transit across network boundaries, even within a single AWS account.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set up AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between the VPCs via the transit gateway. — Option C is correct because AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections between VPCs via a transit gateway can enforce IPsec encryption for all inter-VPC traffic. The transit gateway acts as a central hub, and each VPN connection encrypts traffic using IPsec tunnels, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity in transit. This meets the requirement for encrypted transit between VPCs without relying on third-party appliances.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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