AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Practice Exam

Which of the following is a security benefit of Amazon VPC endpoints?

1. Private access to AWS services without outbound Internet access

2. Enhanced performance for all AWS services

3. Automatic scaling of resources in the VPC

4. Improved latency for outbound traffic

The correct answer is: Private access to AWS services without outbound Internet access

Amazon VPC endpoints provide a significant security benefit by allowing private access to AWS services without the need for outbound Internet access. This means that communication between your resources in the VPC and supported AWS services can occur entirely within the Amazon network. By removing the dependency on the public Internet, you eliminate a number of security risks such as exposure to external threats and vulnerabilities associated with Internet traffic. Additionally, using VPC endpoints helps in maintaining compliance with various security standards by ensuring that sensitive data does not traverse the Internet, reducing the attack surface area. This fits well into a security-focused architecture where minimizing exposure to potential attacks is a priority. While other options may present benefits related to performance, scaling, or latency, they do not specifically tie to a key security characteristic as effectively as the capability to connect privately to AWS services. Thus, the focus on private access underscores the importance of security within cloud network design.