The answer is high latency or packet loss on the internet connection between the sites. In a hybrid cloud environment, even when the local on-premises network is fully functional, the critical bottleneck is almost always the WAN link—the public internet connection bridging your local infrastructure to the cloud provider. Intermittent slowness and timeouts are classic symptoms of a congested or high-latency link, whereas a complete failure would point to DNS misconfigurations or firewall blocks. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to isolate hybrid cloud latency troubleshooting from purely local issues; a common trap is to blame the local router or DNS when the real culprit is the internet pipe itself. Remember the memory tip: “Local is fine, check the line”—if your local network checks out, the problem is almost certainly on the wide-area side.
220-1101 Cloud Computing Concepts Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cloud computing concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 technician is troubleshooting a hybrid cloud environment where an on-premises application needs to access a cloud-based database. The connection is intermittent and slow. The technician checks the local network and finds no issues. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The internet connection between the sites has high latency or packet loss
In a hybrid cloud, latency and bandwidth issues often stem from the internet connection between the on-premises site and the cloud. Even if the local network is fine, the WAN link may be congested or have high latency. DNS or firewall issues would typically cause complete failures, not intermittent slowness.
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.
✗
The cloud database is configured with the wrong DNS records
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect DNS would cause a complete failure to resolve the database address, not intermittent slowness.
✗
The on-premises firewall is blocking the database port
Why it's wrong here
A blocked port would result in a persistent connection failure, not intermittent connectivity.
✓
The internet connection between the sites has high latency or packet loss
Why this is correct
High latency or packet loss on the WAN link can cause intermittent slowdowns and timeouts, even with a healthy local network.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The cloud provider is performing maintenance on the database server
Why it's wrong here
Maintenance would typically cause a planned outage or a specific window, not intermittent issues over time.
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
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 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.
Cloud Computing Concepts — This question tests Cloud Computing Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The internet connection between the sites has high latency or packet loss — In a hybrid cloud, latency and bandwidth issues often stem from the internet connection between the on-premises site and the cloud. Even if the local network is fine, the WAN link may be congested or have high latency. DNS or firewall issues would typically cause complete failures, not intermittent slowness.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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