The answer is to use API Gateway canary release settings to create a canary stage. This is correct because API Gateway allows you to deploy a canary stage that routes a specified percentage of traffic to a new version of the API while the main stage continues serving the stable version, enabling gradual rollouts. For the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this topic tests your understanding of safe deployment strategies within a microservices architecture, often paired with Lambda aliases and stage variables to point the canary to a different Lambda function version. A common trap is confusing canary deployments with blue/green deployments—remember that canaries split traffic by percentage, not by full environment swap. The key memory tip is "canary = percentage split," so think of the canary as a small, controlled test group catching issues before full release.
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 is deploying a microservices architecture using AWS Lambda and Amazon API Gateway. The developer wants to implement a canary release deployment for the API. Which THREE steps should the developer take? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure stage variables to point the canary stage to a different Lambda function alias.
Option A is correct because stage variables in API Gateway can be configured to point the canary stage to a different Lambda function alias, enabling the canary to invoke a separate version of the function for testing. This allows the canary to route a percentage of traffic to a new Lambda version while the main stage continues using the stable alias, supporting gradual rollouts.
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.
✓
Configure stage variables to point the canary stage to a different Lambda function alias.
Why this is correct
Stage variables can route traffic to different aliases.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable canary by setting the traffic percentage in the API Gateway stage.
Why this is correct
This gradually shifts traffic to the new version.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use API Gateway canary release settings to create a canary stage.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use Amazon CloudFront to distribute traffic between two API Gateway stages.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront is not required for canary releases with API Gateway.
✗
Use Lambda canary releases to gradually shift traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda does not support canary releases natively; you would need to use API Gateway for that.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Lambda alias weighted routing (Option E) with API Gateway canary releases, but the question explicitly asks for API-level canary deployment, which requires API Gateway's native canary settings, not just Lambda-level traffic shifting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
API Gateway canary releases work by creating a canary stage that inherits the base stage's configuration but allows overriding settings like stage variables and throttling. The traffic percentage is set as a decimal (e.g., 0.1 for 10%) and is applied at the API Gateway stage level, not at the Lambda alias level, ensuring that the canary receives a specific portion of API requests before they reach the backend. This approach is critical for testing API-level changes (e.g., request/response transformations) alongside Lambda function updates, as the canary can isolate both infrastructure and code changes.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure stage variables to point the canary stage to a different Lambda function alias. — Option A is correct because stage variables in API Gateway can be configured to point the canary stage to a different Lambda function alias, enabling the canary to invoke a separate version of the function for testing. This allows the canary to route a percentage of traffic to a new Lambda version while the main stage continues using the stable alias, supporting gradual rollouts.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.