The correct answer is that the Lambda function’s IAM role lacks the permissions needed to write to CloudWatch Logs. When a Lambda function fails to create during a CloudFormation deployment and no CloudWatch logs appear, it typically means the function was provisioned but cannot log its execution because the IAM role is missing the required `logs:CreateLogGroup`, `logs:CreateLogStream`, and `logs:PutLogEvents` actions. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Lambda’s execution role interacts with CloudWatch Logs—a common trap is assuming a failed stack creation means the function never existed, when in fact the function may have been created but immediately failed due to missing logging permissions. Remember that Lambda automatically attempts to create a log group on first invocation, so without those IAM permissions, the function silently fails and leaves no trace in CloudWatch. A helpful memory tip is “Logs need three: CreateGroup, CreateStream, PutEvents”—if any are missing, your Lambda logs vanish.
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 deploying a serverless application using AWS CloudFormation. The stack creation fails with the error 'The following resource(s) failed to create: [MyLambdaFunction]'. The developer checks the CloudWatch logs but finds no logs for the Lambda function. 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 Lambda function's IAM role does not have permission to write to CloudWatch Logs.
Option C is correct because the error indicates the Lambda function resource failed to create, and the absence of CloudWatch logs suggests the function was created but lacked the necessary IAM permissions to write logs. Without the `logs:CreateLogGroup`, `logs:CreateLogStream`, and `logs:PutLogEvents` permissions, Lambda cannot write to CloudWatch Logs, so no logs appear even if the function is invoked. This is a common misconfiguration when deploying Lambda via CloudFormation without attaching the proper IAM policy.
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 Lambda function code has a syntax error that prevents creation.
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors cause creation failure, but the function might still be created and then fail on first invocation.
✗
The Lambda function was never invoked.
Why it's wrong here
Creation failure means the function was never created, so no invocation.
✓
The Lambda function's IAM role does not have permission to write to CloudWatch Logs.
Why this is correct
If the role lacks logs:CreateLogGroup and logs:CreateLogStream, the function cannot create a log group, causing creation to fail.
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 CloudFormation template has a syntax error.
Why it's wrong here
A template syntax error would prevent the stack from being created at all.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the absence of logs means the function was never invoked or had a code error, but the key clue is the creation failure—if the function resource itself fails to create, logs cannot exist, pointing to a permissions issue during the initial provisioning phase.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when CloudFormation creates a Lambda function, it first provisions the function resource (including code upload) and then attempts to invoke it for a 'Create' event. If the IAM role lacks CloudWatch Logs permissions, the invocation fails silently, and CloudFormation reports a creation failure because the function's initial invocation (for log setup) fails. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs when using a custom IAM role without the AWSLambdaBasicExecutionRole managed policy, leading to a 'ResourceFailedToCreate' error with no logs.
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 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.
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.
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Lambda function's IAM role does not have permission to write to CloudWatch Logs. — Option C is correct because the error indicates the Lambda function resource failed to create, and the absence of CloudWatch logs suggests the function was created but lacked the necessary IAM permissions to write logs. Without the `logs:CreateLogGroup`, `logs:CreateLogStream`, and `logs:PutLogEvents` permissions, Lambda cannot write to CloudWatch Logs, so no logs appear even if the function is invoked. This is a common misconfiguration when deploying Lambda via CloudFormation without attaching the proper IAM policy.
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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