- A
Create an AWS VPC peering connection to the Azure VNet through the on-premises data center using VPN tunnels, and configure the RDS security group to allow traffic only from the Azure VNet CIDR. Ensure the firewall does not decrypt the traffic.
Provides encrypted tunnel end-to-end and uses existing connections for low latency.
- B
Configure the Azure application to use a TLS termination proxy in the on-premises data center that forwards traffic to RDS over SSL, and allow the firewall to inspect traffic.
Why wrong: The proxy would decrypt traffic, breaking end-to-end encryption and increasing latency.
- C
Use AWS Direct Connect and Azure ExpressRoute to connect directly to each other without going through the on-premises data center by establishing a cross-cloud direct connection.
Why wrong: Direct Connect and ExpressRoute cannot directly peer; they terminate at on-premises.
- D
Deploy a third-party SD-WAN appliance in both AWS and Azure to create an encrypted overlay network between the two clouds, bypassing the on-premises data center entirely.
Why wrong: Overlay adds complexity and may not integrate with existing Direct Connect/ExpressRoute.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create an AWS VPC peering connection to the Azure VNet through the on-premises data center using VPN tunnels, and configure the RDS security group to allow traffic only from the Azure VNet CIDR while ensuring the firewall does not decrypt the traffic. This solution is correct because it establishes end-to-end encrypted connectivity by layering a VPN tunnel over the existing multi-cloud encrypted connectivity provided by Direct Connect and ExpressRoute, preserving the SSL encryption from the Azure application to the RDS database while routing traffic through a controlled, low-latency on-premises path. On the CCSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to achieve secure, private inter-cloud communication without breaking the encryption chain—a common trap is assuming that simply routing through a firewall or using native peering alone provides encryption. Remember the memory tip: "VPN over Direct Connect keeps the encryption connect."
CCSP Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud platform and infrastructure 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 large financial institution hosts a critical application in a multi-cloud environment using AWS and Azure. The application processes sensitive customer data and requires low-latency access to a shared database. The database is deployed as a MySQL instance in AWS RDS, and the Azure application instances connect to it over the public internet using SSL. Recently, the security team discovered that the database connection traffic is being routed through an unencrypted proxy, exposing the data in transit. The network architect must redesign the connectivity to ensure encryption end-to-end and minimize latency. The current setup includes an AWS Direct Connect and an Azure ExpressRoute that both terminate at the same on-premises data center. The on-premises network has a firewall that inspects all traffic. The architect proposes using the on-premises data center as an intermediary to route traffic between clouds. Which of the following solutions best addresses the security and latency requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 an AWS VPC peering connection to the Azure VNet through the on-premises data center using VPN tunnels, and configure the RDS security group to allow traffic only from the Azure VNet CIDR. Ensure the firewall does not decrypt the traffic.
Option A is correct because it establishes an encrypted VPN tunnel between AWS and Azure through the on-premises data center, leveraging existing Direct Connect and ExpressRoute connections. This ensures end-to-end encryption (SSL from Azure app to RDS is preserved, and the VPN adds an additional layer) while keeping traffic within controlled, low-latency paths. Configuring the RDS security group to allow only the Azure VNet CIDR restricts access, and ensuring the firewall does not decrypt traffic prevents breaking the encryption chain.
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 an AWS VPC peering connection to the Azure VNet through the on-premises data center using VPN tunnels, and configure the RDS security group to allow traffic only from the Azure VNet CIDR. Ensure the firewall does not decrypt the traffic.
Why this is correct
Provides encrypted tunnel end-to-end and uses existing connections for low latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure the Azure application to use a TLS termination proxy in the on-premises data center that forwards traffic to RDS over SSL, and allow the firewall to inspect traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The proxy would decrypt traffic, breaking end-to-end encryption and increasing latency.
- ✗
Use AWS Direct Connect and Azure ExpressRoute to connect directly to each other without going through the on-premises data center by establishing a cross-cloud direct connection.
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect and ExpressRoute cannot directly peer; they terminate at on-premises.
- ✗
Deploy a third-party SD-WAN appliance in both AWS and Azure to create an encrypted overlay network between the two clouds, bypassing the on-premises data center entirely.
Why it's wrong here
Overlay adds complexity and may not integrate with existing Direct Connect/ExpressRoute.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume Direct Connect and ExpressRoute can directly peer with each other (Option C) or that TLS termination at a proxy is acceptable (Option B), failing to recognize that end-to-end encryption must not be broken and that cloud provider direct interconnects are not available without a third-party service.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The solution leverages site-to-site IPsec VPN tunnels (e.g., using AWS VPN CloudHub or Azure VPN Gateway) over the existing Direct Connect and ExpressRoute connections, which are private, low-latency links. The VPN ensures encryption at the network layer (IPsec) while the application-layer SSL from Azure to RDS remains intact, providing defense-in-depth. In real-world scenarios, this approach is common for hybrid cloud architectures where compliance requires traffic to traverse a central inspection point without compromising 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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach 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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Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — This question tests Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an AWS VPC peering connection to the Azure VNet through the on-premises data center using VPN tunnels, and configure the RDS security group to allow traffic only from the Azure VNet CIDR. Ensure the firewall does not decrypt the traffic. — Option A is correct because it establishes an encrypted VPN tunnel between AWS and Azure through the on-premises data center, leveraging existing Direct Connect and ExpressRoute connections. This ensures end-to-end encryption (SSL from Azure app to RDS is preserved, and the VPN adds an additional layer) while keeping traffic within controlled, low-latency paths. Configuring the RDS security group to allow only the Azure VNet CIDR restricts access, and ensuring the firewall does not decrypt traffic prevents breaking the encryption chain.
What should I do if I get this CCSP 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: "best", "minimum / minimize". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CCSP exam.
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