- A
Replace the NAT Gateway with a smaller NAT Gateway to reduce hourly charges.
Why wrong: Downsizing the NAT Gateway reduces throughput and may degrade performance, so it is not the least impactful option.
- B
Use an egress-only Internet Gateway for the private subnets.
Why wrong: Egress-Only Internet Gateways are only used for IPv6 traffic, not IPv4, so this does not address the issue.
- C
Implement a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 to keep S3 traffic within AWS.
Implementing a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 keeps S3 traffic within AWS, reducing costs without affecting performance. This is the least impactful change.
- D
Purchase a Dedicated NAT Gateway in the same region to get lower data processing rates.
Why wrong: A 'Dedicated NAT Gateway' does not exist in AWS. This option is invalid and cannot be implemented.
SOA-C02 VPC Gateway Endpoint Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cost and performance optimization. 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: vPC Gateway Endpoint. 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 is reviewing AWS Cost Explorer and notices that data transfer costs from EC2 to the internet are high. The EC2 instances are in a VPC with a NAT Gateway in a public subnet. The route table for private subnets sends 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT Gateway. The application serves content to users over the internet. Which change will LEAST impact application performance while reducing costs?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Implement a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 to keep S3 traffic within AWS.
Option C is the correct answer. Implementing a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 allows traffic destined for S3 to stay within the AWS network, bypassing the NAT Gateway and internet. This reduces data transfer costs and has no impact on application performance because it only affects S3 traffic. Options A, B, and D are incorrect: A reduces throughput and may degrade performance; B is for IPv6 only; D refers to a non-existent service.
Key principle: VPC Gateway Endpoint
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the NAT Gateway with a smaller NAT Gateway to reduce hourly charges.
- ✗
Use an egress-only Internet Gateway for the private subnets.
Why it's wrong here
Egress-Only Internet Gateways are only used for IPv6 traffic, not IPv4, so this does not address the issue.
- ✓
Implement a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 to keep S3 traffic within AWS.
- ✗
Purchase a Dedicated NAT Gateway in the same region to get lower data processing rates.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- VPC Gateway Endpoint
- NAT Gateway
- Data Transfer Costs
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
VPC Gateway Endpoint
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review vPC Gateway Endpoint, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Cost and Performance Optimization — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Cost and Performance Optimization practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Cost and Performance Optimization — This question tests Cost and Performance Optimization — VPC Gateway Endpoint.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 to keep S3 traffic within AWS. — Option C is the correct answer. Implementing a VPC Gateway Endpoint for Amazon S3 allows traffic destined for S3 to stay within the AWS network, bypassing the NAT Gateway and internet. This reduces data transfer costs and has no impact on application performance because it only affects S3 traffic. Options A, B, and D are incorrect: A reduces throughput and may degrade performance; B is for IPv6 only; D refers to a non-existent service.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review vPC Gateway Endpoint, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
VPC Gateway Endpoint
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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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