Quick Answer
The answer is the VPN connection, along with a virtual private gateway and a customer gateway. These three components are required because a site-to-site VPN creates a secure, encrypted link between your on-premises network and an AWS VPC; the virtual private gateway (or transit gateway) serves as the VPN concentrator on the AWS side, the customer gateway represents the physical or software VPN device on your premises, and the VPN connection is the logical object that ties them together, containing two tunnels for high availability. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of hybrid networking fundamentals and often appears in scenario-based questions where you must identify the missing resource. A common trap is confusing the VPN connection with the VPN tunnels themselves—remember, the connection is the parent resource that includes the tunnels. For a quick memory aid, think of the three C’s: Cloud gateway, Customer gateway, and Connection.
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. 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.
Which THREE components are required to set up a site-to-site VPN connection between an on-premises network and an AWS VPC? (Choose three.)
Virtual private gateway
AWS-side endpoint for the VPN.
Internet gateway
Why wrong: Not required for VPN; VPN uses the virtual private gateway.
VPN connection
Links the virtual private gateway and customer gateway.
Customer gateway
Represents the on-premises device.
Direct Connect virtual interface
Why wrong: Used for dedicated connection, not VPN.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Virtual private gateway
A site-to-site VPN requires a virtual private gateway (or transit gateway) attached to the VPC, a customer gateway representing the on-premises device, and a VPN connection that ties them together. The VPN connection includes two tunnels.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Virtual private gateway
Why this is correct
AWS-side endpoint for the VPN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Internet gateway
VPN connection
Why this is correct
Links the virtual private gateway and customer gateway.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Customer gateway
Why this is correct
Represents the on-premises device.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Direct Connect virtual interface
Why it's wrong here
Used for dedicated connection, not VPN.
Common exam traps
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Virtual private gateway — A site-to-site VPN requires a virtual private gateway (or transit gateway) attached to the VPC, a customer gateway representing the on-premises device, and a VPN connection that ties them together. The VPN connection includes two tunnels.
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which THREE components are required to set up a site-to-site VPN connection between a VPC and an on-premises network? (Choose three.)
hardWhy A: A virtual private gateway or transit gateway is required as the AWS-side VPN concentrator that terminates the VPN tunnels and routes traffic between the VPC and the on-premises network. It provides the target for the VPN connection and must be attached to the VPC to enable site-to-site VPN functionality.
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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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