- A
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway via the NAT Gateway.
Why wrong: A route cannot point to an internet gateway via a NAT gateway; the internet gateway is a separate target.
- B
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway.
Why wrong: Private subnet with internet gateway would give instances public IPs and direct internet access, which is not desired.
- C
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway.
Why wrong: The NAT gateway should be in the public subnet and have a route to the internet gateway, not the public subnet route table pointing to the NAT gateway.
- D
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway.
This allows private instances to access the internet through the NAT gateway while remaining private.
Quick Answer
The correct routing configuration is to set the public subnet route table with a default route of 0.0.0.0/0 pointing to the Internet Gateway (IGW) and the private subnet route table with a default route of 0.0.0.0/0 pointing to the NAT Gateway. This works because the NAT Gateway must reside in a public subnet with direct IGW access to translate private IPs for outbound traffic, while the private subnet’s route table directs all internet-bound traffic through the NAT Gateway, which then forwards it to the IGW. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of asymmetric routing and the critical distinction that private subnets must never have a direct route to an IGW—a common trap is choosing a route table that points the private subnet to the IGW, which would bypass the NAT and break outbound-only access. A reliable memory tip is “Public to IGW, Private to NAT,” ensuring the NAT Gateway sits in the public subnet as the bridge for updates and patches.
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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.
A SysOps administrator needs to create a VPC with both public and private subnets. The public subnet will host a NAT gateway and a bastion host. The private subnet will host application servers that need outbound internet access for updates. Which routing configuration 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
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway.
The private subnet route table should have a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the NAT gateway, which is in the public subnet. The public subnet route table should have a default route pointing to the internet gateway. Option A is incorrect because the private subnet should not have a route to the internet gateway. Option C is incorrect because the private subnet should not have a route to the NAT gateway via the internet gateway. Option D is incorrect because the NAT gateway should be in the public subnet.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway via the NAT Gateway.
- ✗
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway.
- ✗
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway.
- ✓
Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Networking and Content Delivery — study guide chapter
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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 — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Public subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> Internet Gateway; Private subnet route table: 0.0.0.0/0 -> NAT Gateway. — The private subnet route table should have a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the NAT gateway, which is in the public subnet. The public subnet route table should have a default route pointing to the internet gateway. Option A is incorrect because the private subnet should not have a route to the internet gateway. Option C is incorrect because the private subnet should not have a route to the NAT gateway via the internet gateway. Option D is incorrect because the NAT gateway should be in the public subnet.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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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