- A
The Lambda function is timing out. Increase the timeout value in the Lambda configuration.
Why wrong: Timeout would cause 504 errors, not 502, and logs would show timeout, not access denied.
- B
The DynamoDB table is throttling requests. Enable auto-scaling for the table.
Why wrong: Throttling would cause ProvisionedThroughputExceededException, not AccessDeniedException.
- C
The Lambda execution role lacks permissions to access DynamoDB. Update the role to include the necessary DynamoDB actions.
This directly addresses the AccessDeniedException by granting required permissions.
- D
The API Gateway request is too large. Set the payload size limit higher in API Gateway settings.
Why wrong: 502 errors are not typically caused by payload size; access denied is a permissions issue.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 uses AWS Lambda functions behind an API Gateway REST API. The Lambda functions are written in Python and use the boto3 SDK to interact with DynamoDB. After a recent deployment, some users report sporadic 502 Bad Gateway errors when calling the API. The Lambda function logs show occasional 'AccessDeniedException' errors. What is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The Lambda execution role lacks permissions to access DynamoDB. Update the role to include the necessary DynamoDB actions.
Option A is correct because the sporadic 502 errors and AccessDeniedException in logs indicate that the Lambda execution role is missing permissions for DynamoDB operations, and the errors occur when the function attempts to access DynamoDB. Adding the required DynamoDB permissions resolves the issue.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Lambda function is timing out. Increase the timeout value in the Lambda configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout would cause 504 errors, not 502, and logs would show timeout, not access denied.
- ✗
The DynamoDB table is throttling requests. Enable auto-scaling for the table.
Why it's wrong here
Throttling would cause ProvisionedThroughputExceededException, not AccessDeniedException.
- ✓
The Lambda execution role lacks permissions to access DynamoDB. Update the role to include the necessary DynamoDB actions.
Why this is correct
This directly addresses the AccessDeniedException by granting required permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The API Gateway request is too large. Set the payload size limit higher in API Gateway settings.
Why it's wrong here
502 errors are not typically caused by payload size; access denied is a permissions issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Timeout would cause 504 errors, not 502, and logs would show timeout, not access denied.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Lambda execution role lacks permissions to access DynamoDB. Update the role to include the necessary DynamoDB actions. — Option A is correct because the sporadic 502 errors and AccessDeniedException in logs indicate that the Lambda execution role is missing permissions for DynamoDB operations, and the errors occur when the function attempts to access DynamoDB. Adding the required DynamoDB permissions resolves the issue.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DVA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DVA-C02 exam.
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