The correct answer is to configure the cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disable the VPN. This resolves the hybrid cloud latency spike because the issue stems from traffic failing over to the VPN backup link during peak hours, which introduces higher latency and congestion compared to the dedicated, low-latency Direct Connect path. On the CompTIA Cloud+ CV0-004 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of routing precedence in hybrid cloud environments—specifically, how asymmetric routing or automatic failover to a VPN can degrade performance when Direct Connect is available. A common trap is assuming the VPN is a harmless backup, but it often lacks the bandwidth and consistent sub-millisecond latency of Direct Connect. Remember the memory tip: "Direct Connect is the express lane; the VPN is the local road—keep traffic on the express lane for peak-hour speed."
CV0-004 Deployment Practice Question
This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 financial services company is migrating a critical application to a hybrid cloud environment. The application must maintain sub-millisecond latency between the front-end and back-end components. The on-premises data center is located in New York, and the cloud region chosen is AWS us-east-1. The network team has established a dedicated AWS Direct Connect connection. After deploying the application, latency tests show 2 ms on average, which is acceptable. However, during peak hours, latency spikes to 10 ms. The cloud administrator suspects that the spike is due to increased traffic going over the VPN backup link instead of Direct Connect. What should the administrator do to resolve the issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disable the VPN.
Option B is correct because the latency spike during peak hours is caused by traffic failing over to the VPN backup link, which introduces higher latency and potential congestion. By configuring cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disabling the VPN, the administrator ensures all traffic stays on the low-latency, dedicated path. This eliminates the possibility of traffic being routed over the VPN, which is typically slower and less reliable than Direct Connect.
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.
✗
Move the application to a different AWS region closer to the on-premises data center.
Why it's wrong here
us-east-1 is already close to New York; the issue is routing, not region distance.
✓
Configure the cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disable the VPN.
Why this is correct
Ensures all traffic uses the low-latency Direct Connect.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the bandwidth of the VPN backup link.
Why it's wrong here
VPN inherently has higher latency due to encryption and internet routing.
✗
Implement traffic shaping to prioritize application traffic over the Direct Connect link.
Why it's wrong here
Traffic shaping does not reroute traffic if it's already going over VPN.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume increasing bandwidth or traffic shaping will fix the latency issue, but the real problem is that traffic is incorrectly routed over the VPN backup link, not that the Direct Connect link is saturated.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated, private network connection with consistent latency, typically 1-2 ms for us-east-1 to New York, while VPN connections traverse the public internet and can experience variable latency and packet loss. The spike to 10 ms indicates that BGP route propagation or failover logic is causing traffic to use the VPN backup link, often due to route preference misconfiguration (e.g., local preference or AS path prepending). Disabling the VPN or adjusting BGP attributes ensures that Direct Connect remains the primary path even during peak hours.
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.
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disable the VPN. — Option B is correct because the latency spike during peak hours is caused by traffic failing over to the VPN backup link, which introduces higher latency and potential congestion. By configuring cloud resources to use only the Direct Connect connection and disabling the VPN, the administrator ensures all traffic stays on the low-latency, dedicated path. This eliminates the possibility of traffic being routed over the VPN, which is typically slower and less reliable than Direct Connect.
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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