Quick Answer
The answer is ExpressRoute FastPath. This Azure service is specifically designed to enable high-throughput active-active connectivity, supporting up to 10 Gbps by bypassing the ExpressRoute gateway and allowing traffic to flow directly between on-premises networks and Azure virtual networks. Unlike standard ExpressRoute, FastPath inherently provides active-active routing, ensuring both high availability and the bandwidth required for demanding hybrid workloads. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to meet strict throughput and redundancy requirements without overcomplicating the design—a common trap is selecting VPN Gateway, which is active-passive and capped at lower speeds, or assuming ExpressRoute Direct alone solves the routing issue. Remember the memory tip: FastPath = Fast + Path, meaning it accelerates traffic while keeping both paths live for active-active performance.
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. 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 hybrid network solution connecting an on-premises data center to Azure. They require high availability with active-active routing and need to support up to 10 Gbps throughput. Which Azure service should they include in the design?
Site-to-Site VPN Gateway
Why wrong: VPN Gateway is active-passive and throughput is limited.
Azure Virtual WAN
Why wrong: Virtual WAN manages connectivity but does not itself provide active-active routing.
ExpressRoute FastPath
FastPath offers active-active connectivity with high throughput.
ExpressRoute Direct
Why wrong: Direct provides dedicated ports but not inherently active-active routing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ExpressRoute FastPath
ExpressRoute FastPath provides active-active connectivity with high throughput up to 10 Gbps. Option A is wrong because VPN Gateway typically supports lower throughput and is active-passive. Option B is wrong because Azure Virtual WAN is a management layer, not a connectivity service itself. Option D is wrong because ExpressRoute Direct provides dedicated ports but not inherently active-active routing.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Site-to-Site VPN Gateway
Azure Virtual WAN
Why it's wrong here
Virtual WAN manages connectivity but does not itself provide active-active routing.
ExpressRoute FastPath
Why this is correct
FastPath offers active-active connectivity with high throughput.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
ExpressRoute Direct
Why it's wrong here
Direct provides dedicated ports but not inherently active-active routing.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: ExpressRoute FastPath — ExpressRoute FastPath provides active-active connectivity with high throughput up to 10 Gbps. Option A is wrong because VPN Gateway typically supports lower throughput and is active-passive. Option B is wrong because Azure Virtual WAN is a management layer, not a connectivity service itself. Option D is wrong because ExpressRoute Direct provides dedicated ports but not inherently active-active routing.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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