The answer is to configure a site-to-site VPN between the on-premises network and the cloud VPC. This is correct because a site-to-site VPN establishes an encrypted tunnel using IPsec/IKE protocols, ensuring all data in transit between the two networks is securely encrypted over the public internet. However, the requirement for dedicated bandwidth introduces a critical nuance: a standard VPN shares internet bandwidth and does not guarantee dedicated throughput. On the CompTIA Cloud+ CV0-004 exam, this question tests your ability to prioritize encryption requirements when dedicated bandwidth is also specified, often trapping candidates who overlook that a VPN alone lacks bandwidth guarantees—a dedicated connection like AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute would provide that, but those options typically do not include native encryption. The exam expects you to recognize that when encryption is the primary mandate, the VPN is the correct choice among the given options. Memory tip: “VPN encrypts, Direct Connect dedicates—know which need comes first.”
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 its on-premises workload to a public cloud. The security team wants to ensure that all data transmitted between the on-premises network and the cloud VPC is encrypted in transit and that the connection uses dedicated bandwidth. Which of the following should the security team implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a site-to-site VPN between the on-premises network and the cloud VPC.
Option C is correct because a site-to-site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel (using IPsec/IKE) over the public internet, ensuring data in transit is encrypted. However, the question also requires dedicated bandwidth, which a VPN does not provide—it shares internet bandwidth. The correct answer should be a dedicated connection like AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute, but since the question states 'dedicated bandwidth' and the only option that provides encryption is the VPN, C is the best choice among the options given.
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.
✗
Attach an internet gateway to the VPC and use public IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
An internet gateway does not encrypt traffic; it exposes resources to the internet.
✗
Use a NAT gateway to translate private IPs to public IPs.
Why it's wrong here
NATgateway does not provide encryption or dedicated bandwidth.
✓
Configure a site-to-site VPN between the on-premises network and the cloud VPC.
Why this is correct
A site-to-site VPN encrypts data in transit and can provide a secure tunnel over the internet, though it doesn't guarantee dedicated bandwidth.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set up a direct connection between the on-premises router and the cloud VPC.
Why it's wrong here
A direct connection provides dedicated bandwidth but does not encrypt traffic by default.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a direct connection (Option D) automatically provides encryption, but it only provides a private, dedicated link—encryption must be explicitly configured, whereas a VPN inherently encrypts but does not guarantee dedicated bandwidth.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Site-to-site VPNs typically use IPsec in tunnel mode with IKEv1 or IKEv2 for key exchange, encapsulating packets in ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) for encryption and authentication. Dedicated connections like Direct Connect use MPLS or VLANs to provide private, consistent bandwidth but require additional encryption (e.g., IPsec or TLS) to meet encryption-in-transit requirements. In practice, many enterprises combine Direct Connect with IPsec to achieve both dedicated bandwidth and encryption.
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: Configure a site-to-site VPN between the on-premises network and the cloud VPC. — Option C is correct because a site-to-site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel (using IPsec/IKE) over the public internet, ensuring data in transit is encrypted. However, the question also requires dedicated bandwidth, which a VPN does not provide—it shares internet bandwidth. The correct answer should be a dedicated connection like AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute, but since the question states 'dedicated bandwidth' and the only option that provides encryption is the VPN, C is the best choice among the options given.
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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