- A
Add a CloudFormation change set action in the pipeline with a manual approval step to review the changes before executing the stack update.
Change sets show what will be changed, allowing review before update.
- B
Create a stack policy that denies deletion of critical resources, and include the policy in the CloudFormation template.
Why wrong: Stack policies prevent deletion but the update still proceeds and may fail on other resources.
- C
Add a manual approval step before the deployment action to review the code change.
Why wrong: Reviewing code changes is not sufficient to catch resource deletion; a change set review is needed.
- D
Add a 'Test' stage in the pipeline that deploys the stack to a test environment first.
Why wrong: Testing does not prevent the issue; it only helps catch it in a lower environment.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add a CloudFormation change set action in the pipeline with a manual approval step to review the changes before executing the stack update. This solution works because a change set provides a detailed preview of the proposed infrastructure modifications, such as resource deletions or replacements, without applying them. By inserting a manual approval gate before the change set execution, the team can catch destructive changes like the one that deleted a critical resource, preventing the pipeline from proceeding with a risky update. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of safe deployment patterns and the distinction between change sets, stack policies, and approval gates—a common trap is confusing stack policies (which only block specific resource actions) with change sets (which pause the entire update for review). Remember the memory tip: “Preview before you pounce” to recall that change sets let you inspect the impact before the pipeline executes the stack update.
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. 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 company uses AWS CodeCommit to store infrastructure as code templates. The DevOps team has set up an AWS CodePipeline that automatically deploys a CloudFormation stack when changes are pushed to the main branch. The pipeline includes a deployment action that uses the CloudFormation create/update stack action. Recently, a developer pushed a change that caused the CloudFormation stack update to fail because the change would have deleted a critical resource. The pipeline did not catch this issue, and the stack update failed midway, leaving the stack in a partially updated state. The team wants to implement a safety mechanism to prevent such issues in the future. Which solution should they implement?
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 CloudFormation change set action in the pipeline with a manual approval step to review the changes before executing the stack update.
Option B is correct. Adding a change set approval step allows the team to review the changes before applying them. Option A is wrong because a manual approval on the source is too early. Option C is wrong because stack policies protect resources but do not prevent the update from starting; they can prevent deletion but the update may still proceed. Option D is wrong because the 'Test' stage is for testing, not for reviewing changes to infrastructure.
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.
- ✓
Add a CloudFormation change set action in the pipeline with a manual approval step to review the changes before executing the stack update.
Why this is correct
Change sets show what will be changed, allowing review before update.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a stack policy that denies deletion of critical resources, and include the policy in the CloudFormation template.
Why it's wrong here
Stack policies prevent deletion but the update still proceeds and may fail on other resources.
- ✗
Add a manual approval step before the deployment action to review the code change.
Why it's wrong here
Reviewing code changes is not sufficient to catch resource deletion; a change set review is needed.
- ✗
Add a 'Test' stage in the pipeline that deploys the stack to a test environment first.
Why it's wrong here
Testing does not prevent the issue; it only helps catch it in a lower environment.
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 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 DOP-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 DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a CloudFormation change set action in the pipeline with a manual approval step to review the changes before executing the stack update. — Option B is correct. Adding a change set approval step allows the team to review the changes before applying them. Option A is wrong because a manual approval on the source is too early. Option C is wrong because stack policies protect resources but do not prevent the update from starting; they can prevent deletion but the update may still proceed. Option D is wrong because the 'Test' stage is for testing, not for reviewing changes to infrastructure.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-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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