- A
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger a Lambda function that waits for approval.
Why wrong: This is complex and not the standard approach.
- B
Add a manual approval action in the CodePipeline pipeline.
CodePipeline supports manual approval actions that pause the pipeline.
- C
Configure the approval action to require a specified IAM user or group to approve.
The approval action can be configured with IAM permissions for who can approve.
- D
Use a CodeDeploy lifecycle hook to pause the deployment.
Why wrong: Lifecycle hooks can run scripts but not provide manual approval.
- E
Configure an SNS topic to send an email to the approver.
Why wrong: SNS can notify but does not provide approval functionality.
Question 385 of 1,616
Manual Approval in CodePipeline
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 implementing a CI/CD pipeline using AWS CodeCommit, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy. The developer wants to ensure that the pipeline automatically deploys to production only after a manual approval step. Which TWO actions should the developer take?
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
✓
Add a manual approval action in the CodePipeline pipeline.
Both Option B and Option C are correct. In AWS CodePipeline, a manual approval action pauses the pipeline until the specified approver(s) approve or reject the change. To implement this, you add a manual approval action in the pipeline (Option B) and then configure that action to require a specific IAM user or group to approve (Option C). This ensures that only authorized personnel can approve the production deployment. Option A is incorrect because CloudWatch Events and Lambda can automate pipeline execution but do not provide a built-in manual approval mechanism. Option D is incorrect because CodeDeploy lifecycle hooks can pause the deployment process within the deployment group, but the requirement is a pipeline-level manual approval step, which is a native feature of CodePipeline. Option E is incorrect because SNS is used for notifications; while you can notify approvers via SNS, the approval action itself is configured within CodePipeline, not through SNS.
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.
- ✗
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger a Lambda function that waits for approval.
Why it's wrong here
This is complex and not the standard approach.
- ✓
Add a manual approval action in the CodePipeline pipeline.
Why this is correct
CodePipeline supports manual approval actions that pause the pipeline.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure the approval action to require a specified IAM user or group to approve.
Why this is correct
The approval action can be configured with IAM permissions for who can approve.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a CodeDeploy lifecycle hook to pause the deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Lifecycle hooks can run scripts but not provide manual approval.
- ✗
Configure an SNS topic to send an email to the approver.
Why it's wrong here
SNS can notify but does not provide approval functionality.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Add a manual approval action in the CodePipeline pipeline. — Both Option B and Option C are correct. In AWS CodePipeline, a manual approval action pauses the pipeline until the specified approver(s) approve or reject the change. To implement this, you add a manual approval action in the pipeline (Option B) and then configure that action to require a specific IAM user or group to approve (Option C). This ensures that only authorized personnel can approve the production deployment. Option A is incorrect because CloudWatch Events and Lambda can automate pipeline execution but do not provide a built-in manual approval mechanism. Option D is incorrect because CodeDeploy lifecycle hooks can pause the deployment process within the deployment group, but the requirement is a pipeline-level manual approval step, which is a native feature of CodePipeline. Option E is incorrect because SNS is used for notifications; while you can notify approvers via SNS, the approval action itself is configured within CodePipeline, not through SNS.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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