CAS-004 Security Architecture Practice Question
A security architect is designing a secure connection between an on-premises data center and a cloud provider's virtual network. The connection must be private, low-latency, and not traverse the public internet. Which solution should they recommend?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming 'VPN = private' — candidates select site-to-site VPN because it is encrypted, but encryption does not change the fact that IPsec VPN traffic still traverses the public internet, which the question explicitly forbids.
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
✓
Direct Connect / ExpressRoute
Direct Connect (AWS) and ExpressRoute (Azure) are dedicated private circuits from the on-premises data center to the cloud provider's network, providing low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity that never traverses the public internet. This matches all three stated requirements: private, low-latency, and no public internet traversal.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
Why it's wrong here
SD-WAN manages and optimises traffic across multiple WAN transports, including broadband internet links, so it does not guarantee a private path avoiding the public internet. It is correct when the requirement is cost-effective, resilient branch connectivity with application-aware routing, not dedicated private cloud interconnect.
- ✗
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
Why it's wrong here
A CASB brokers access to cloud services, enforcing data and threat policies on SaaS usage; it provides no private network transport between a data centre and a cloud virtual network. It is correct when securing sanctioned cloud application access, not for private, low-latency interconnect.
- ✗
Site-to-site VPN over the internet
Why it's wrong here
A site-to-site VPN carries traffic across the public internet, so it fails the explicit no-public-internet requirement regardless of encryption. It is tempting because it is a genuine private-tunnel technology, and would be correct where cost matters and internet traversal is acceptable, unlike a dedicated private circuit such as AWS Direct Connect.
- ✓
Direct Connect / ExpressRoute
Why this is correct
Direct Connect and ExpressRoute provide dedicated private circuits between on-premises infrastructure and the cloud provider's network, bypassing the public internet entirely. This satisfies the private, low-latency, non-internet-traversing constraints that site-to-site VPN over the internet cannot guarantee.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.