True or False? Private subnets have direct access to the Internet.

Private subnets do not have direct access to the Internet. This is primarily because resources located in a private subnet are designed to be accessible only from within the Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) or via specific means like Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections or AWS Direct Connect.

When a subnet is defined as private, it means that it does not have an associated route to an Internet Gateway, which is the component that facilitates external Internet connectivity within a VPC. As a result, instances in a private subnet cannot directly initiate outbound connections to the Internet nor can they receive inbound connections from the Internet.

For resources within a private subnet to access the Internet, they typically must go through a Network Address Translation (NAT) Gateway or NAT instance, which allow those resources to send outbound traffic to the Internet while still keeping the resources shielded from direct inbound traffic. This limitation maintains the security posture of the subnet, ensuring that critical data and services do not face direct exposure to potential Internet threats.

In summary, the assertion that private subnets have direct access to the Internet is false; they lack this capability unless specifically configured to operate through NAT gateways, emphasizing their designed purpose for isolation and security within the AWS environment.