Question 55 of 1,616
Development with AWS ServiceshardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Why CloudFormation Custom Resource Lambda Fails Without Response

This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 company is using AWS CloudFormation to deploy infrastructure. The developer wants to create a custom resource that runs a Lambda function during stack creation and update. What must the developer do to ensure the custom resource works correctly?

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 function must send a response to an S3 pre-signed URL.

Option A is correct because AWS CloudFormation custom resources require the Lambda function to send a response to an S3 pre-signed URL to signal completion. CloudFormation waits for this response to proceed with stack operations; without it, the stack creation or update will time out and fail.

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 must send a response to an S3 pre-signed URL.

    Why this is correct

    Custom resources require the function to respond to the pre-signed URL.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • The Lambda function must be defined in the same CloudFormation template.

    Why it's wrong here

    The function can be defined elsewhere.

  • The Lambda function must return a JSON object with the desired output.

    Why it's wrong here

    The function must send a response to a pre-signed URL.

  • The Lambda function must be written in Python.

    Why it's wrong here

    Any supported runtime can be used.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume the Lambda function's return value is automatically captured by CloudFormation, but in reality, the function must explicitly send a response to the pre-signed URL to signal completion.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, CloudFormation generates a pre-signed S3 URL and passes it to the custom resource via the `ResponseURL` property in the event payload. The Lambda function must send a PUT request to this URL with a JSON body containing `Status` (SUCCESS or FAILED), `PhysicalResourceId`, and optional `Data`. If the function fails to respond within one hour, CloudFormation marks the stack operation as failed. This mechanism is critical for integrating external provisioning actions that are not natively supported by CloudFormation resources.

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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.

Quick reference

AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison

Storage ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

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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 function must send a response to an S3 pre-signed URL. — Option A is correct because AWS CloudFormation custom resources require the Lambda function to send a response to an S3 pre-signed URL to signal completion. CloudFormation waits for this response to proceed with stack operations; without it, the stack creation or update will time out and fail.

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.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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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.