- A
UpdateReplacePolicy: Retain
Why wrong: Prevents replacement on update, not deletion.
- B
DeletionPolicy: Delete
Why wrong: This allows deletion, not protects from it.
- C
DeletionPolicy: Retain
Retains the resource even if the stack is deleted.
- D
DependsOn: SomeOtherResource
Why wrong: DependsOn only sets resource creation order.
Question 171 of 1,616
Using CloudFormation DeletionPolicy Retain to Protect Resources
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 developer is using AWS CloudFormation to deploy a stack that includes an Amazon RDS DB instance. The developer wants to ensure that the DB instance is not accidentally deleted when the stack is updated. Which property should be set on the DB instance resource?
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
✓
DeletionPolicy: Retain
Option C is correct because setting `DeletionPolicy: Retain` on an Amazon RDS DB instance in a CloudFormation template ensures that when the stack is updated (or deleted), the DB instance is preserved and not removed. This property overrides the default behavior where CloudFormation would delete the resource during a stack update that removes or replaces it, preventing accidental data loss.
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.
- ✗
UpdateReplacePolicy: Retain
Why it's wrong here
Prevents replacement on update, not deletion.
- ✗
DeletionPolicy: Delete
Why it's wrong here
This allows deletion, not protects from it.
- ✓
DeletionPolicy: Retain
Why this is correct
Retains the resource even if the stack is deleted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DependsOn: SomeOtherResource
Why it's wrong here
DependsOn only sets resource creation order.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `UpdateReplacePolicy` with `DeletionPolicy`, thinking that `UpdateReplacePolicy: Retain` prevents deletion during updates, but it only controls the old resource after a replacement, not when the resource is removed from the template entirely.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudFormation evaluates `DeletionPolicy` during stack deletion or resource removal from the template; for RDS DB instances, setting `Retain` causes the physical database to remain in your account even after the stack is deleted, allowing you to manually manage or reattach it later. A subtle behavior is that `DeletionPolicy: Retain` also applies to stack updates that replace the resource (e.g., changing a property that requires replacement), so the old DB instance is preserved while a new one is created. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for production databases where accidental deletion during a stack update could cause extended downtime and data loss.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: DeletionPolicy: Retain — Option C is correct because setting `DeletionPolicy: Retain` on an Amazon RDS DB instance in a CloudFormation template ensures that when the stack is updated (or deleted), the DB instance is preserved and not removed. This property overrides the default behavior where CloudFormation would delete the resource during a stack update that removes or replaces it, preventing accidental data loss.
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
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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