- A
Configure an Amazon SQS queue to poll the S3 bucket for new objects and invoke the pipeline.
Why wrong: SQS does not poll S3; it is a message queue.
- B
Configure an S3 event notification that sends to an Amazon SNS topic, which triggers an AWS Lambda function that starts the pipeline.
This is a valid custom trigger mechanism.
- C
Configure an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule that detects S3 object creation events and triggers the pipeline.
CloudWatch Events can start CodePipeline execution.
- D
Use an AWS Lambda function that periodically checks the S3 bucket for new objects.
Why wrong: This is polling, not an automatic trigger.
- E
Use AWS CodeStar to automatically detect changes in the S3 bucket.
Why wrong: CodeStar is a project management tool, not a trigger.
Trigger CodePipeline on S3 Upload with Event Notifications
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 AWS CodePipeline to automate the deployment of a web application. The pipeline has a source stage that pulls code from an Amazon S3 bucket. Which TWO actions can the developer take to automatically trigger the pipeline when new code is uploaded to the S3 bucket?
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
Configure an S3 event notification that sends to an Amazon SNS topic, which triggers an AWS Lambda function that starts the pipeline.
Option B is correct because S3 event notifications can be sent to an SNS topic, which then triggers an AWS Lambda function. The Lambda function can call the StartPipelineExecution API on CodePipeline, enabling automatic pipeline execution when new objects are uploaded to the S3 bucket. This is a standard pattern for event-driven pipeline triggers.
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.
- ✗
Configure an Amazon SQS queue to poll the S3 bucket for new objects and invoke the pipeline.
Why it's wrong here
SQS does not poll S3; it is a message queue.
- ✓
Configure an S3 event notification that sends to an Amazon SNS topic, which triggers an AWS Lambda function that starts the pipeline.
Why this is correct
This is a valid custom trigger mechanism.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule that detects S3 object creation events and triggers the pipeline.
Why this is correct
CloudWatch Events can start CodePipeline execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an AWS Lambda function that periodically checks the S3 bucket for new objects.
Why it's wrong here
This is polling, not an automatic trigger.
- ✗
Use AWS CodeStar to automatically detect changes in the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
CodeStar is a project management tool, not a trigger.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think SQS can poll S3 or that periodic polling (Option D) is acceptable, but AWS emphasizes event-driven architectures over polling for real-time automation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 event notifications use the PUT or POST object creation events, which are published to a configured destination (SNS, SQS, or Lambda) via the S3 notification subsystem. The Lambda function receives the event payload containing bucket name and object key, then uses the AWS SDK to call the StartPipelineExecution API with the pipeline name. A subtle behavior is that S3 event notifications are typically delivered within seconds but are best-effort; for critical workflows, consider using Amazon EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) as in Option C, which provides more reliable event delivery and filtering capabilities.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure an S3 event notification that sends to an Amazon SNS topic, which triggers an AWS Lambda function that starts the pipeline. — Option B is correct because S3 event notifications can be sent to an SNS topic, which then triggers an AWS Lambda function. The Lambda function can call the StartPipelineExecution API on CodePipeline, enabling automatic pipeline execution when new objects are uploaded to the S3 bucket. This is a standard pattern for event-driven pipeline triggers.
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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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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