The correct choice is to create a VPN connection between the application and database subnets. This solution establishes an encrypted tunnel—typically using IPsec or TLS-based VPN protocols—that secures all traffic between the two subnets, directly meeting the security team’s requirement to encrypt application-database traffic. On the CompTIA Cloud+ CV0-004 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to implement network segmentation and encryption in a cloud migration, often appearing as a distractor against options like SSL/TLS certificates or direct peering, which do not inherently encrypt all traffic between subnets. A common trap is assuming a static IP alone solves the security need, but the VPN is what actually encrypts the data in transit. Remember the mnemonic: “VPN wraps the pipe, static IP just names the tap.”
CV0-004 Security Practice Question
This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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 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?
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.
Option A is correct because 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.
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.
✓
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign an elastic IP 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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse encrypting traffic between application and database with encrypting external web traffic (TLS) or assume that a site-to-site VPN is needed, but the key is that both components are in the cloud and the encryption must cover internal subnet-to-subnet communication, not just internet-facing connections.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A VPN connection between subnets can be implemented using a virtual private gateway or transit gateway with encrypted IPsec tunnels, ensuring that all traffic between the application and database subnets is encapsulated and encrypted at the network layer (Layer 3). In real-world scenarios, this is often used to meet compliance requirements like PCI-DSS or HIPAA, where internal east-west traffic must be encrypted even within the same cloud region, and the static IP requirement can be met by using an elastic network interface with a fixed private IP address.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a VPN connection between the application and database subnets. — Option A is correct because 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.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 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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