- A
The SQS queue has a dead-letter queue configured.
Why wrong: A DLQ does not prevent processing; it receives messages after processing failures.
- B
The SQS queue policy denies access to the Lambda function.
A queue policy can explicitly deny access.
- C
The Lambda function's execution role does not have sqs:ReceiveMessage permission.
Without this permission, the function cannot poll the queue.
- D
The SQS queue has a rate limit that prevents Lambda from polling.
Why wrong: SQS does not have rate limits on polling; it supports high throughput.
- E
The event source mapping between SQS and Lambda is disabled.
If the mapping is disabled, Lambda won't poll the queue.
Question 816 of 1,616
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 using an Amazon SQS queue with a Lambda function as a consumer. Messages are being sent to the queue but the Lambda function is not processing them. Which THREE of the following are possible causes?
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
✓
The SQS queue policy denies access to the Lambda function.
Option B is correct because the SQS queue policy is a resource-based policy that controls which principals (like Lambda's execution role) can perform actions on the queue. If the policy explicitly denies the Lambda function's access, the function will not be able to poll or delete messages from the queue, even if its own execution role grants those permissions.
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 SQS queue has a dead-letter queue configured.
Why it's wrong here
A DLQ does not prevent processing; it receives messages after processing failures.
- ✓
The SQS queue policy denies access to the Lambda function.
Why this is correct
A queue policy can explicitly deny access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The Lambda function's execution role does not have sqs:ReceiveMessage permission.
Why this is correct
Without this permission, the function cannot poll the queue.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The SQS queue has a rate limit that prevents Lambda from polling.
Why it's wrong here
SQS does not have rate limits on polling; it supports high throughput.
- ✓
The event source mapping between SQS and Lambda is disabled.
Why this is correct
If the mapping is disabled, Lambda won't poll the queue.
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 that candidates often overlook resource-based policies (like SQS queue policies) and focus only on the Lambda execution role, assuming that if the role has permissions, the integration will work, but the queue policy can independently deny access.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Lambda event source mapping uses the SQS ReceiveMessage API to poll the queue. The Lambda execution role must have sqs:ReceiveMessage, sqs:DeleteMessage, and sqs:GetQueueAttributes permissions, while the queue policy must allow the Lambda service principal to perform these actions. A common misconfiguration is forgetting to add the source ARN condition in the queue policy, which can cause implicit denial even if the role has the correct permissions.
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.
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Troubleshooting and Optimization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
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 SQS queue policy denies access to the Lambda function. — Option B is correct because the SQS queue policy is a resource-based policy that controls which principals (like Lambda's execution role) can perform actions on the queue. If the policy explicitly denies the Lambda function's access, the function will not be able to poll or delete messages from the queue, even if its own execution role grants those permissions.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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