The answer is VPC Peering, which is the correct choice because it establishes direct, private IP connectivity between two VPCs in the same AWS region using the AWS global network backbone, ensuring high throughput with no bandwidth bottlenecks or single points of failure. This solution is simple and low-cost, as it requires no separate transit hub, VPN, or additional hardware—traffic stays entirely within AWS, and you only pay for data transfer. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of when to use VPC Peering versus alternatives like Transit Gateway or VPN connections; a common trap is overcomplicating the solution by choosing Transit Gateway for a simple two-VPC setup in the same region, which adds unnecessary cost and complexity. Remember the memory tip: “Peering is for pairs—two VPCs, same region, no middleman.”
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. 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 two VPCs: VPC-A (10.0.0.0/16) and VPC-B (10.1.0.0/16). The VPCs are in the same AWS region. The SysOps administrator needs to enable private IP connectivity between the two VPCs so that an EC2 instance in VPC-A can communicate with an EC2 instance in VPC-B using their private IP addresses. The administrator wants a simple, low-cost solution with high throughput. Which AWS service should be used?
VPC peering is the simplest and cheapest way to connect two VPCs in the same region, enabling private IP communication with low latency and high throughput.
B
AWS Transit Gateway
Why wrong: Transit Gateway is a network transit hub that can connect many VPCs and on-premises networks. For just two VPCs, VPC peering is simpler and less expensive.
C
AWS Direct Connect
Why wrong: Direct Connect is a dedicated network connection from on-premises to AWS, not designed for VPC-to-VPC connectivity.
D
Internet Gateway
Why wrong: An Internet Gateway allows outbound and inbound internet traffic. It does not provide private communication between VPCs; traffic would be routed over the public internet.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
VPC Peering
VPC Peering is the correct choice because it enables direct, private IP connectivity between two VPCs in the same AWS region using the existing AWS network infrastructure, with no bandwidth bottlenecks, no single point of failure, and no additional cost beyond data transfer. It meets the requirements for simplicity, low cost, and high throughput, as traffic stays within the AWS backbone and does not require a separate transit hub or VPN.
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.
✓
VPC Peering
Why this is correct
VPC peering is the simplest and cheapest way to connect two VPCs in the same region, enabling private IP communication with low latency and high throughput.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Transit Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Transit Gateway is a network transit hub that can connect many VPCs and on-premises networks. For just two VPCs, VPC peering is simpler and less expensive.
✗
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a dedicated network connection from on-premises to AWS, not designed for VPC-to-VPC connectivity.
✗
Internet Gateway
Why it's wrong here
An Internet Gateway allows outbound and inbound internet traffic. It does not provide private communication between VPCs; traffic would be routed over the public internet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose AWS Transit Gateway for any multi-VPC connectivity, overlooking that VPC Peering is simpler and cheaper for a two-VPC scenario, and that Transit Gateway’s benefits (centralized routing, transitive peering) are only cost-effective with many VPCs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Peering uses the existing AWS global infrastructure to route traffic between VPCs via private IP addresses, with no intermediate gateway or VPN appliance. It leverages the same underlying network as inter-AZ traffic, providing high throughput and low latency, and supports transitive routing only if explicitly configured via a transit VPC or third-party appliance. A subtle behavior is that VPC Peering does not support edge-to-edge routing through a VPN or Direct Connect connection, which can cause unexpected failures in hybrid architectures.
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 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: VPC Peering — VPC Peering is the correct choice because it enables direct, private IP connectivity between two VPCs in the same AWS region using the existing AWS network infrastructure, with no bandwidth bottlenecks, no single point of failure, and no additional cost beyond data transfer. It meets the requirements for simplicity, low cost, and high throughput, as traffic stays within the AWS backbone and does not require a separate transit hub or VPN.
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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Question Discussion
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