The correct answer is to modify the buildspec in the build stage to include commands that run security scanning tools, or to integrate a third-party tool via a custom action in CodePipeline. This is viable because CodeBuild can execute any command or script defined in the buildspec, making it a natural place to run vulnerability scanners like Snyk or Trivy during the build phase, while CodePipeline’s custom action support allows you to invoke external security tools as a separate pipeline stage. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of where security scanning fits in a CI/CD workflow and common missteps—many candidates incorrectly choose Amazon Inspector (which scans EC2 instances, not code) or AWS Shield (a DDoS service). A key memory tip: think of the build stage as the “workshop” where you can add any tool, and custom actions as the “bridge” to external services; avoid services that scan infrastructure, not application code.
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.
An organization uses AWS CodePipeline to deploy a static website to Amazon S3. The pipeline has a source stage (CodeCommit), a build stage (CodeBuild that minifies assets), and a deploy stage (S3 deployment). The team wants to add a stage for running security vulnerability scans on the code. Which TWO options are viable?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a custom action in the pipeline that invokes a third-party scanning service via AWS Lambda.
Correct answers are B and D. B: CodeBuild can run security scans as part of the build. D: Third-party tools can be integrated via CodePipeline custom actions. A is wrong because S3 cannot run scans. C is wrong because Inspector is for EC2 instances, not code. E is wrong because Shield is for DDoS protection.
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 custom action in the pipeline that invokes a third-party scanning service via AWS Lambda.
Why this is correct
Custom actions allow integration with external tools.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable AWS Shield Advanced to scan for vulnerabilities.
Why it's wrong here
Shield is for DDoS protection, not code scanning.
✗
Use Amazon Inspector to scan the source code.
Why it's wrong here
Inspector scans EC2 instances, not code.
✗
Add an S3 event notification to trigger a Lambda function that scans the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Scans should run before deployment, not after.
✓
Modify the buildspec in the build stage to include commands that run security scanning tools.
Why this is correct
CodeBuild can run custom commands including security tools.
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: Add a custom action in the pipeline that invokes a third-party scanning service via AWS Lambda. — Correct answers are B and D. B: CodeBuild can run security scans as part of the build. D: Third-party tools can be integrated via CodePipeline custom actions. A is wrong because S3 cannot run scans. C is wrong because Inspector is for EC2 instances, not code. E is wrong because Shield is for DDoS protection.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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