hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CV0-004 Practice Question: Migrating a legacy application to a public cloud
A company is migrating a legacy application to a public cloud. The application requires a static IP address for licensing. The security team insists on encrypting all traffic between the application and the database. Which of the following should the cloud architect implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates may mistakenly choose option B (Assign an elastic IP and use NAT) thinking it provides encryption, but NAT does not encrypt traffic. Option C (TLS certificates on the web server) protects only web traffic, not internal database connections. Option D (site-to-site VPN) is for connecting on-premises to cloud, not for internal cloud subnet-to-subnet encryption. In CompTIA Cloud+, the correct approach is to use a VPN connection between subnets within the same cloud provider to encrypt all traffic between the application and database.
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
✓
Create a VPN connection between the application and database subnets.
Creating a VPN connection between the application and database subnets establishes an encrypted tunnel (using IPsec or TLS-based VPN protocols) that ensures all traffic between the two subnets is encrypted, meeting the security team's requirement. Additionally, the application's need for a static IP address can be satisfied by assigning a static private IP to the application instance within its subnet, while the VPN provides secure communication without exposing traffic to the public internet.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a VPN connection between the application and database subnets.
Why this is correct
A VPN encrypts traffic between the two subnets, and a static IP can be assigned to the application.
- ✗
Assign a static public IP address and use NAT.
Why it's wrong here
NAT changes the source IP, which could break the licensing requirement.
- ✗
Use TLS certificates on the web server.
Why it's wrong here
TLS protects web traffic, not the database connection.
- ✗
Deploy a site-to-site VPN from the cloud to the on-premises data center.
Why it's wrong here
This does not address internal traffic encryption.
Visual reference
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 CV0-004 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 CV0-004 exam.