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 CloudFormation template defines a Lambda function and a version resource. After updating the function code in the S3 bucket, the developer updates the stack. The Lambda function is updated, but the version resource remains unchanged. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The function code changed, but CloudFormation does not detect the change because the S3 key is the same.
CloudFormation detects resource updates by comparing the new template or parameter values with the current stack. When the Lambda function code is updated in S3 but the S3 key (object path) remains the same, CloudFormation sees no change in the template property (e.g., S3Key) and therefore does not trigger an update for the function. However, the Lambda service itself detects the new code object and updates the function. The version resource, which depends on the function's physical ID and code hash, is not recreated because CloudFormation does not see a change in its input properties, so it remains pointing to the old version.
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 template should use AutoPublishAlias to create versions.
Why it's wrong here
AutoPublishAlias is for SAM, not native CloudFormation.
✓
The function code changed, but CloudFormation does not detect the change because the S3 key is the same.
Why this is correct
CloudFormation compares the S3 key, not the content; if the key is unchanged, it may not trigger an update.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The version resource is created before the function update completes.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation orchestrates creation order.
✗
The version resource has a DependsOn clause that prevents it from updating.
Why it's wrong here
No DependsOn is shown.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume CloudFormation automatically detects changes to S3 object content, but it only compares the template's declared S3 key and version properties, not the actual object's ETag or last-modified date.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
No DependsOn is shown.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudFormation uses a resource's physical ID and a hash of its declared properties to determine if an update is needed. For Lambda functions, the S3 bucket, key, and object version are the properties that trigger a code update; if only the object content changes but the key remains the same, CloudFormation sees no property change. The Lambda version resource (AWS::Lambda::Version) is tied to the function's SHA-256 hash of the code; if CloudFormation does not re-create the function, the version resource's input (the function's logical ID) remains unchanged, so CloudFormation skips it. In real-world scenarios, developers often use an S3 version ID or a custom parameter (e.g., a timestamp) as a dummy dependency to force CloudFormation to detect the change.
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 Class
Min Duration
Retrieval
Use Case
S3 Standard
None
Immediate
Frequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA
30 days
Immediate
Infrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA
30 days
Immediate
Non-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
None
Immediate–hours
Unknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant
90 days
Milliseconds
Archive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible
90 days
Minutes–hours
Archive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
180 days
Hours
Long-term compliance archive
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: The function code changed, but CloudFormation does not detect the change because the S3 key is the same. — CloudFormation detects resource updates by comparing the new template or parameter values with the current stack. When the Lambda function code is updated in S3 but the S3 key (object path) remains the same, CloudFormation sees no change in the template property (e.g., S3Key) and therefore does not trigger an update for the function. However, the Lambda service itself detects the new code object and updates the function. The version resource, which depends on the function's physical ID and code hash, is not recreated because CloudFormation does not see a change in its input properties, so it remains pointing to the old version.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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