AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate / Question #1518 of 1019

Question #1518

A company currently operates a 10 Gbps AWS Direct Connect connection but experiences average utilization below 5%. To reduce costs while maintaining security, which solution should a solutions architect recommend?

A

Provision a new 10 Gbps Direct Connect connection and share it with another AWS account.

B

Create a new 1 Gbps Direct Connect connection via the AWS Management Console.

C

Partner with an AWS Direct Connect Provider to establish a 10 Gbps shared connection.

D

Engage an AWS Direct Connect Partner to provision a 1 Gbps hosted connection under the company's existing account.

Explanation

Answer D is correct because:
- Cost Reduction: Downgrading from a 10 Gbps to a 1 Gbps connection aligns with the low average utilization (5%), reducing costs significantly.
- Hosted Connection: Partnering with an AWS Direct Connect Provider allows provisioning a smaller, cost-effective hosted connection without requiring a dedicated physical port.
- Security: The connection remains under the company's AWS account, ensuring no shared access and maintaining existing security controls.

Other options are incorrect because:
- A: Adding another 10 Gbps connection increases costs and introduces unnecessary complexity.
- B: Direct Connect connections cannot be provisioned directly via the AWS Management Console; they require a partner or dedicated hardware.
- C: A shared 10 Gbps connection still exceeds the required capacity and involves sharing infrastructure, which may introduce security risks.

Key Points: Use hosted connections via AWS Partners to scale bandwidth cost-effectively. Maintain security by keeping connections under your AWS account.

Answer

The correct answer is: D