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CAS-004 Practice Question: A security architect is designing a hybrid cloud…
A security architect is designing a hybrid cloud environment where a web application hosted in AWS needs to securely access an on-premises database. The architect wants to minimize exposure to the internet and ensure encryption in transit. Which TWO techniques should the architect consider? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse VPC peering with hybrid connectivity, not realizing it only works between VPCs within the same AWS region, or they assume TLS alone is sufficient for network-level security without addressing the underlying internet exposure.
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
✓
Establish an IPsec VPN tunnel between the AWS VPC and the on-premises network.
An IPsec VPN tunnel creates an encrypted, site-to-site connection between the AWS VPC and the on-premises network, ensuring encryption in transit and minimizing internet exposure by using the VPN gateway as the endpoint. Option B is correct because AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated, private network connection that bypasses the internet entirely, reducing exposure and supporting encryption via optional MACsec or IPsec, while maintaining low latency and consistent bandwidth.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Establish an IPsec VPN tunnel between the AWS VPC and the on-premises network.
Why this is correct
IPsec VPN provides encrypted tunnel over the internet, securing data in transit.
- ✓
Use AWS Direct Connect to create a dedicated private network connection from on-premises to AWS.
Why this is correct
Direct Connect bypasses the internet, providing a private, low-latency connection; can be combined with encryption for extra security.
- ✗
Store database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve them at runtime.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager manages credentials but does not provide network connectivity or encryption.
- ✗
Configure VPC peering between the AWS VPC and the on-premises network.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering is for connecting VPCs within AWS, not for hybrid connections.
- ✗
Configure the web application to connect to the database using TLS encryption.
Why it's wrong here
TLS encrypts the connection but does not hide the database's public IP; still exposed to internet unless combined with VPN.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.