- A
The buildspec.yml file contains an invalid command that prevents artifact generation
Why wrong: Build spec errors would cause the build stage to fail, not the deploy stage.
- B
A previous deployment failed and triggered an automatic rollback, leaving the environment in an unstable state
Elastic Beanstalk environments can enter UPDATE_ROLLBACK_IN_PROGRESS if a previous deployment failed, blocking new deployments until the rollback completes.
- C
A CloudWatch alarm is blocking the deployment due to high error rates
Why wrong: CloudWatch alarms do not block deployments; they only notify or trigger auto scaling actions.
- D
Insufficient IAM permissions for CodePipeline to pull source code from CodeCommit
Why wrong: Permissions issues would affect the source stage, not the deploy stage.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that a previous deployment failed and triggered an automatic rollback, leaving the environment in an unstable state. This is because Elastic Beanstalk enters an UPDATE_ROLLBACK_IN_PROGRESS state when a deployment fails mid-process, and while in this state, the environment cannot accept any new deployment actions—including those initiated by CodePipeline—until the rollback fully completes or is manually resolved. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Elastic Beanstalk lifecycle states interact with pipeline stages, a common trap being to misattribute the failure to earlier stages like CodeCommit or CodeBuild. A key memory tip is to think of the rollback state as a locked door: CodePipeline cannot push new changes until the door is fully closed, so always check the environment’s health history before troubleshooting pipeline errors.
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. 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 CodePipeline to deploy a web application to an Elastic Beanstalk environment. The pipeline has a source stage from CodeCommit, a build stage using CodeBuild, and a deploy stage to Elastic Beanstalk. Recently, deployments started failing with an error: 'The deployment failed because the Elastic Beanstalk environment is in an UPDATE_ROLLBACK_IN_PROGRESS state.' What is the MOST likely cause?
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 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
A previous deployment failed and triggered an automatic rollback, leaving the environment in an unstable state
Option B is correct because a failed previous deployment can leave the environment in a rolling back state, preventing subsequent deployments. Option A is wrong because CodeCommit authentication issues would cause the source stage to fail, not the deploy stage. Option C is wrong because build spec errors would cause the build stage to fail. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch alarms do not block deployments.
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 buildspec.yml file contains an invalid command that prevents artifact generation
Why it's wrong here
Build spec errors would cause the build stage to fail, not the deploy stage.
- ✓
A previous deployment failed and triggered an automatic rollback, leaving the environment in an unstable state
Why this is correct
Elastic Beanstalk environments can enter UPDATE_ROLLBACK_IN_PROGRESS if a previous deployment failed, blocking new deployments until the rollback completes.
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.
- ✗
A CloudWatch alarm is blocking the deployment due to high error rates
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch alarms do not block deployments; they only notify or trigger auto scaling actions.
- ✗
Insufficient IAM permissions for CodePipeline to pull source code from CodeCommit
Why it's wrong here
Permissions issues would affect the source stage, not the deploy stage.
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 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 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?
SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A previous deployment failed and triggered an automatic rollback, leaving the environment in an unstable state — Option B is correct because a failed previous deployment can leave the environment in a rolling back state, preventing subsequent deployments. Option A is wrong because CodeCommit authentication issues would cause the source stage to fail, not the deploy stage. Option C is wrong because build spec errors would cause the build stage to fail. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch alarms do not block deployments.
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.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DOP-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 DOP-C02 exam.
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