The answer is to configure the Lambda function alias with traffic shifting using weights. This is the correct approach because Lambda aliases natively support canary deployments by allowing you to assign a percentage of invocation traffic to a new version while the remaining traffic continues to the stable version, enabling gradual rollouts without any external services or additional infrastructure. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of serverless deployment patterns and the native capabilities of Lambda aliases, often appearing as a distractor against options that suggest using CodeDeploy, API Gateway stage variables, or manual version swaps. A common trap is assuming you need an external deployment service, but the exam emphasizes that alias-based weight shifting is the simplest built-in mechanism for canary releases. Memory tip: think of an alias as a traffic light with a dimmer switch—you can slowly turn up the green for your new version while keeping the red for the old one.
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
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.
An organization uses AWS Lambda functions behind an Amazon API Gateway REST API. They want to deploy a new version of the Lambda function using canary deployments. What is the recommended approach?
Use AWS CodeDeploy to create a canary deployment for the Lambda function.
Why wrong: CodeDeploy can manage canary deployments for Lambda, but the question asks for the recommended approach; directly using Lambda aliases is simpler.
B
Use API Gateway canary release deployment to shift traffic to the new Lambda version.
Why wrong: API Gateway canary is for API changes, not Lambda versions.
C
Deploy the new Lambda version using AWS SAM with AutoPublishAlias and DeploymentPreference.
Why wrong: SAM uses CodeDeploy to manage canary deployments for Lambda.
D
Configure the Lambda function alias with traffic shifting using weights.
Lambda aliases can route a percentage of traffic to a new version.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the Lambda function alias with traffic shifting using weights.
Option D is correct because Lambda function aliases support traffic shifting by assigning weights to different versions, enabling canary deployments without external services. This is the native AWS mechanism for gradually routing a percentage of invocations to a new version while monitoring for errors, then shifting all traffic once stable.
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 AWS CodeDeploy to create a canary deployment for the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
CodeDeploy can manage canary deployments for Lambda, but the question asks for the recommended approach; directly using Lambda aliases is simpler.
✗
Use API Gateway canary release deployment to shift traffic to the new Lambda version.
Why it's wrong here
API Gateway canary is for API changes, not Lambda versions.
✗
Deploy the new Lambda version using AWS SAM with AutoPublishAlias and DeploymentPreference.
Why it's wrong here
SAM uses CodeDeploy to manage canary deployments for Lambda.
✓
Configure the Lambda function alias with traffic shifting using weights.
Why this is correct
Lambda aliases can route a percentage of traffic to a new version.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing API Gateway canary releases (which shift traffic between API stages) with Lambda alias traffic shifting (which shifts traffic between function versions), leading candidates to pick Option B when the question specifically asks about deploying a new Lambda function version.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lambda alias traffic shifting uses a weighted alias that points to two function versions with a specified percentage split (e.g., 90% to version 1, 10% to version 2). This is implemented by the Lambda service routing each invocation based on the configured weights, and it integrates seamlessly with API Gateway because the API Gateway integration points to the alias (e.g., 'my-function:live'), not a specific version. A real-world scenario is gradually rolling out a new business logic while monitoring CloudWatch metrics and alarms; if errors spike, you can instantly shift all traffic back to the stable version by updating the alias weights.
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.
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: Configure the Lambda function alias with traffic shifting using weights. — Option D is correct because Lambda function aliases support traffic shifting by assigning weights to different versions, enabling canary deployments without external services. This is the native AWS mechanism for gradually routing a percentage of invocations to a new version while monitoring for errors, then shifting all traffic once stable.
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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Question Discussion
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