Quick Answer
The answer is Change Sets, because they enable zero-downtime updates by letting you preview the impact of proposed changes on your running resources before you execute them. When you create a Change Set, CloudFormation generates a detailed summary of every resource modification, addition, or deletion, allowing you to verify that critical components like your Lambda function, API Gateway, or DynamoDB table will not be disrupted. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of safe deployment strategies; a common trap is confusing Change Sets with StackSets (which handle multi-region deployments) or Drift Detection (which only identifies manual changes after the fact). Remember the key distinction: Change Sets are for planning and previewing, not for detecting drift or managing multiple stacks. A helpful memory tip is to think of Change Sets as a "safety net" — they let you see the landing before you jump, ensuring your production environment stays live throughout the update.
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 developer needs to deploy a serverless application using AWS CloudFormation. The application includes an AWS Lambda function, an Amazon API Gateway REST API, and an Amazon DynamoDB table. The developer wants to create a stack that can be updated without downtime. Which CloudFormation feature should be used?
Drift detection
Why wrong: Drift detection identifies differences but does not control updates.
StackSets
Why wrong: StackSets deploy to multiple accounts/regions, not for zero-downtime updates.
Nested stacks
Why wrong: Nested stacks organize resources but do not inherently prevent downtime.
Change Sets
Change Sets allow you to review and apply changes safely.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Change Sets
Option A is correct because Change Sets allow you to preview how changes will affect running resources before applying them, enabling you to plan for zero downtime. Option B is wrong because Nested Stacks are for modularity, not specifically for zero-downtime updates. Option C is wrong because StackSets are for multi-account/region deployments. Option D is wrong because Drift Detection identifies changes but does not prevent downtime.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Drift detection
Why it's wrong here
Drift detection identifies differences but does not control updates.
StackSets
Why it's wrong here
StackSets deploy to multiple accounts/regions, not for zero-downtime updates.
Nested stacks
Why it's wrong here
Nested stacks organize resources but do not inherently prevent downtime.
Change Sets
Why this is correct
Change Sets allow you to review and apply changes safely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Change Sets — Option A is correct because Change Sets allow you to preview how changes will affect running resources before applying them, enabling you to plan for zero downtime. Option B is wrong because Nested Stacks are for modularity, not specifically for zero-downtime updates. Option C is wrong because StackSets are for multi-account/region deployments. Option D is wrong because Drift Detection identifies changes but does not prevent downtime.
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.
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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