AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certification Practice Exam

How does a Bastion Host improve security in AWS architectures?

1. By encrypting all incoming and outgoing traffic

2. By providing a controlled access point to a private subnet

3. By isolating public and private subnets entirely

4. By using a multi-cloud strategy

The correct answer is: By providing a controlled access point to a private subnet

A Bastion Host serves as a crucial component in enhancing security for AWS architectures by acting as a controlled access point to a private subnet. This specialized server is typically deployed in a public subnet and facilitates secure SSH (Secure Shell) or RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) access to instances located in private subnets. By directing all remote access through the Bastion Host, organizations significantly reduce direct exposure of their private resources to the internet. Only the Bastion Host has a public IP address, while backend instances in the private subnet do not need to be directly exposed to external access. This strategic design limits the attack surface, ensuring that potential threats are focused on a single, monitored entry point rather than spreading across multiple instances. In this setup, even if someone attempts to breach the Bastion Host, additional security measures such as network ACLs (Access Control Lists), security groups, and logging can be implemented to monitor and control access, further enhancing overall security. The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of a Bastion Host. While encrypting traffic is important for security, it is not the defining role of a Bastion Host. Isolating public and private subnets is a best practice but does not specifically relate to the function of a