The correct three actions are to use CodeCommit as the source with a trigger for pull request merge events, add a manual approval stage before deployment, and use a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger the pipeline on pull request merge. This combination enforces both branch restrictions and manual sign-off because CodeCommit triggers ensure the pipeline only starts when code is merged to main, while the manual approval stage acts as a gatekeeper requiring explicit human sign-off before production deployment. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine source-level branch filtering with approval workflows, a common pattern for production safety. A frequent trap is choosing an option that deploys from any branch or one that lacks an approval step, both of which violate the requirement for controlled, approved deployments. Remember the mnemonic "Merge, Approve, Deploy" to recall that a merge event triggers the pipeline, an approval stage gates the deployment, and only then does the S3 deploy proceed.
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 DevOps team uses AWS CodePipeline with an Amazon S3 source action. The pipeline deploys a static website to an S3 bucket. The engineer wants to ensure that only approved changes are deployed to production. The team uses Git feature branches and wants to deploy only when a pull request is merged to the main branch. Which THREE actions should the engineer take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a CloudWatch Events rule to start the pipeline when a CodeCommit pull request is merged
Options A, C, and D are correct. Option A: Use CodeCommit as the source and configure a trigger for pull request merge events. Option C: Add a manual approval stage before deployment. Option D: Use a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger the pipeline on pull request merge. Option B is incorrect because it would deploy from any branch. Option E is incorrect because it does not enforce approval.
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 a CloudWatch Events rule to start the pipeline when a CodeCommit pull request is merged
Why this is correct
Another way to trigger on merge.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an S3 source and configure event notifications for all object uploads
Why it's wrong here
Would trigger on any upload, not just merges.
✓
Use AWS CodeCommit as the source and configure a trigger for pull request merge events
Why this is correct
Triggers pipeline only on merge.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set the pipeline to execute on every push to any branch
Why it's wrong here
Would deploy unapproved changes.
✓
Add an approval stage in the pipeline that requires manual sign-off
Why this is correct
Ensures only approved changes proceed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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.
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.
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: Configure a CloudWatch Events rule to start the pipeline when a CodeCommit pull request is merged — Options A, C, and D are correct. Option A: Use CodeCommit as the source and configure a trigger for pull request merge events. Option C: Add a manual approval stage before deployment. Option D: Use a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger the pipeline on pull request merge. Option B is incorrect because it would deploy from any branch. Option E is incorrect because it does not enforce approval.
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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Question Discussion
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