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Question 216 of 499
Cloud Architecture and Design →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is the configuration using security group references with web inbound on 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to the app SG on 8443; app inbound from the web SG on 8443, outbound to the DB SG on 3306; and DB inbound from the app SG on 3306. This works because security groups are stateful and allow you to reference other security groups as sources or destinations, which enforces strict, least-privilege traffic flow between tiers while keeping the rules dynamic—if an instance’s IP changes, the rule still applies. On the CompTIA Cloud+ CV0-004 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine encryption requirements with security group rules for multi-tier architecture; a common trap is using network ACLs (which are stateless and require separate inbound/outbound rules) or opening wide port ranges instead of specific ports. Remember that encryption in transit is handled by the protocol (HTTPS on 443, TLS on 8443), not by the security group itself. Memory tip: think “web talks to app on 8443, app talks to DB on 3306, and only the web sees the internet”—each tier only knows the one next to it.

CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question

This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of cloud architecture and design. 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 designing a cloud network architecture for a three-tier application. The web tier must be accessible from the internet, the application tier should only be accessible from the web tier, and the database tier should only be accessible from the application tier. The company uses a single VPC with multiple subnets. The security team requires that all traffic between tiers be encrypted in transit. The architect proposes using security groups and network ACLs. Which combination of security group rules meets these requirements while following the principle of least privilege?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "least"

    Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Study the full ACL explanation →

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

✓

Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to app SG:8443. App: inbound from web SG:8443, outbound to db SG:3306. DB: inbound from app SG:3306.

Option A is correct because it uses security group (SG) references to enforce strict, stateful traffic flow between tiers: the web SG allows inbound HTTPS (443) from the internet and outbound to the app SG on port 8443; the app SG allows inbound only from the web SG on port 8443 and outbound to the DB SG on port 3306; the DB SG allows inbound only from the app SG on port 3306. This follows least privilege by restricting each tier’s communication to only the necessary ports and source/destination SGs, and the use of TLS/SSL on port 443 and 8443 ensures encryption in transit as required.

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.

  • ✓

    Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to app SG:8443. App: inbound from web SG:8443, outbound to db SG:3306. DB: inbound from app SG:3306.

    Why this is correct

    Uses security groups for fine-grained control, allows only required traffic, and encrypts traffic (HTTPS on web, database encryption assumed).

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to 0.0.0.0/0:0-65535. App: inbound from web SG:443, outbound to 0.0.0.0/0:0-65535. DB: inbound from app SG:3306, outbound to 0.0.0.0/0:0-65535.

    Why it's wrong here

    Allowing all outbound traffic is not least privilege.

  • ✗

    Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0 and 22 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to app SG:443. App: inbound from web SG:443, outbound to db SG:3306. DB: inbound from app SG:3306.

    Why it's wrong here

    SSH from the internet should not be open for the web tier; administrative access should be via bastion host.

  • ✗

    Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to app subnet CIDR:1433. App: inbound from web subnet CIDR:443, outbound to db subnet CIDR:3306. DB: inbound from app subnet CIDR:3306.

    Why it's wrong here

    Using CIDR blocks is less granular and does not adapt to dynamic IP changes; security groups are preferred.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse security group statefulness with network ACL statelessness, or they mistakenly use broad CIDR ranges (like 0.0.0.0/0) for outbound rules instead of specific SG references, violating least privilege and encryption requirements.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Security groups are stateful and evaluate all rules before allowing a response, so outbound rules must explicitly permit traffic to the destination SG’s port; using SG IDs as sources/destinations creates a logical firewall that scales with auto-scaling groups. In contrast, network ACLs are stateless and require separate inbound and outbound rules for ephemeral ports, making them less suitable for tier-to-tier encryption where stateful tracking simplifies rule management. A real-world scenario where this matters is in PCI-DSS compliance, where least-privilege SG rules with encrypted ports (e.g., 8443 for HTTPS between tiers) are audited to ensure no broad CIDR ranges or unencrypted protocols are allowed.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CV0-004 question test?

Cloud Architecture and Design — This question tests Cloud Architecture and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Web: inbound 443 from 0.0.0.0/0, outbound to app SG:8443. App: inbound from web SG:8443, outbound to db SG:3306. DB: inbound from app SG:3306. — Option A is correct because it uses security group (SG) references to enforce strict, stateful traffic flow between tiers: the web SG allows inbound HTTPS (443) from the internet and outbound to the app SG on port 8443; the app SG allows inbound only from the web SG on port 8443 and outbound to the DB SG on port 3306; the DB SG allows inbound only from the app SG on port 3306. This follows least privilege by restricting each tier’s communication to only the necessary ports and source/destination SGs, and the use of TLS/SSL on port 443 and 8443 ensures encryption in transit as required.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026

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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.