- A
Use the Ref function in the ECS service to reference the load balancer.
Why wrong: Ref does not guarantee order.
- B
Use the DependsOn attribute in the ECS service resource to reference the load balancer.
DependsOn ensures creation order.
- C
Define the load balancer before the ECS service in the template.
Why wrong: Order in template does not guarantee creation order.
- D
Use the Fn::GetAtt function to reference the load balancer.
Why wrong: Fn::GetAtt does not enforce order.
Question 522 of 1,616
CloudFormation DependsOn Attribute — Resource Creation Order
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 is creating a CloudFormation template to deploy a microservices architecture. The template includes an Amazon ECS service with an Application Load Balancer. The developer wants to ensure that the load balancer is created before the ECS service. How should the developer achieve this?
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
✓
Use the DependsOn attribute in the ECS service resource to reference the load balancer.
Option B is correct because the DependsOn attribute explicitly defines resource creation order in AWS CloudFormation. By setting DependsOn on the ECS service to reference the load balancer, the template ensures the load balancer is fully created before the ECS service attempts to register with it, preventing deployment failures due to missing dependencies.
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.
- ✗
Use the Ref function in the ECS service to reference the load balancer.
Why it's wrong here
Ref does not guarantee order.
- ✓
Use the DependsOn attribute in the ECS service resource to reference the load balancer.
Why this is correct
DependsOn ensures creation order.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Define the load balancer before the ECS service in the template.
Why it's wrong here
Order in template does not guarantee creation order.
- ✗
Use the Fn::GetAtt function to reference the load balancer.
Why it's wrong here
Fn::GetAtt does not enforce order.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the order of resource definitions in the template dictates creation order, but CloudFormation only guarantees order through explicit DependsOn or implicit dependencies from intrinsic functions like Ref or Fn::GetAtt used in resource properties.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudFormation uses a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to resolve resource dependencies. The DependsOn attribute adds an explicit edge to this graph, forcing the load balancer to reach the CREATE_COMPLETE state before the ECS service begins creation. This is critical when the ECS service's LoadBalancers property references a target group that depends on the load balancer's listener, as implicit dependencies via Ref or Fn::GetAtt may not capture all transitive dependencies.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
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: Use the DependsOn attribute in the ECS service resource to reference the load balancer. — Option B is correct because the DependsOn attribute explicitly defines resource creation order in AWS CloudFormation. By setting DependsOn on the ECS service to reference the load balancer, the template ensures the load balancer is fully created before the ECS service attempts to register with it, preventing deployment failures due to missing dependencies.
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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