- A
Configure an AWS Lambda function in the pipeline that checks a DynamoDB table for approval status and pauses until approved.
Why wrong: Lambda cannot pause the pipeline; it would need to poll, which is less efficient than the built-in approval.
- B
Use an Amazon SNS topic to send a notification to QA, and have them manually trigger the deploy stage by clicking a link in the email.
Why wrong: SNS alone cannot approve or resume a pipeline; it only sends notifications.
- C
Use Amazon CloudWatch Events to trigger a custom action that waits for an approval signal.
Why wrong: CloudWatch Events cannot implement manual approval; the built-in approval action is simpler.
- D
Add a manual approval stage in CodePipeline between the build and deploy stages, and configure SNS to notify approvers.
CodePipeline supports manual approval actions that pause the pipeline and notify approvers via SNS.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add a manual approval stage in CodePipeline between the build and deploy stages, and configure SNS to notify approvers. This is correct because CodePipeline natively supports a manual approval action as a stage gate, which pauses the pipeline execution until an authorized user clicks “Approve” or “Reject” via the AWS Management Console or API. The SNS topic is used solely to send email or SMS notifications to the QA team when the pipeline is waiting for approval; it does not perform the approval itself. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of CodePipeline’s built-in approval mechanism versus common distractors like using Lambda to pause the pipeline or relying on CloudWatch Events for approval—both of which lack native approval capabilities. A key memory tip is: “SNS notifies, CodePipeline approves.”
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 team uses AWS CodePipeline to deploy a containerized application to Amazon ECS. The pipeline uses a source stage from CodeCommit, a build stage that builds a Docker image and pushes it to Amazon ECR, and a deploy stage that updates an ECS service. The team wants to add a manual approval step before the deploy stage to allow QA to verify the image. What is the BEST way to implement this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 manual approval stage in CodePipeline between the build and deploy stages, and configure SNS to notify approvers.
Option A is correct because CodePipeline has a built-in approval action that can be added as a stage. Option B is incorrect because SNS does not provide an approval mechanism. Option C is incorrect because Lambda cannot pause the pipeline. Option D is incorrect because CloudWatch Events cannot approve.
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 AWS Lambda function in the pipeline that checks a DynamoDB table for approval status and pauses until approved.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda cannot pause the pipeline; it would need to poll, which is less efficient than the built-in approval.
- ✗
Use an Amazon SNS topic to send a notification to QA, and have them manually trigger the deploy stage by clicking a link in the email.
Why it's wrong here
SNS alone cannot approve or resume a pipeline; it only sends notifications.
- ✗
Use Amazon CloudWatch Events to trigger a custom action that waits for an approval signal.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Events cannot implement manual approval; the built-in approval action is simpler.
- ✓
Add a manual approval stage in CodePipeline between the build and deploy stages, and configure SNS to notify approvers.
Why this is correct
CodePipeline supports manual approval actions that pause the pipeline and notify approvers via SNS.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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?
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: Add a manual approval stage in CodePipeline between the build and deploy stages, and configure SNS to notify approvers. — Option A is correct because CodePipeline has a built-in approval action that can be added as a stage. Option B is incorrect because SNS does not provide an approval mechanism. Option C is incorrect because Lambda cannot pause the pipeline. Option D is incorrect because CloudWatch Events cannot approve.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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