The answer is to set the DeletionPolicy attribute to 'Delete' on the AWS::EC2::EIP resource. This is correct because CloudFormation’s default behavior is to delete an Elastic IP when the stack is deleted, but if the EIP remains associated with a running EC2 instance or an ENI that is not being torn down, the deletion can fail silently, leaving the IP allocated and incurring charges. Explicitly setting DeletionPolicy to 'Delete' forces CloudFormation to release the Elastic IP even when an association exists, as long as the associated resource is also being deleted. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of CloudFormation resource lifecycle and the common trap that the default deletion behavior is not guaranteed when dependencies linger. A frequent distractor is the Retain policy, which would intentionally keep the EIP and cause ongoing costs. Memory tip: think "Delete to release, Retain to drain your wallet."
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 CloudFormation to deploy infrastructure. They have a template that creates an Amazon EC2 instance and an Elastic IP address. The template uses the AWS::EC2::EIP resource. The team notices that when they delete the stack, the Elastic IP address is not released, leading to charges. They want to ensure that the Elastic IP is automatically released when the stack is deleted. What should they do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set the DeletionPolicy attribute to 'Delete' on the EIP resource
By default, CloudFormation deletes the EIP when the stack is deleted. However, if the EIP is associated with an instance, the association may prevent deletion. To ensure release, set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Delete' (which is default) and ensure that the EIP is not associated with an ENI that is not being deleted. Option A is correct. Option B (DependsOn) does not affect deletion. Option C (Retain policy) would keep the EIP, causing charges. Option D (manual release) is not automated.
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.
✗
Set the DeletionPolicy attribute to 'Retain' to keep the EIP
Why it's wrong here
Retain would keep the EIP, causing charges
✗
Create a custom resource to release the EIP before stack deletion
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary; CloudFormation can handle it natively
✓
Set the DeletionPolicy attribute to 'Delete' on the EIP resource
Why this is correct
Default is Delete, but ensure it's explicitly set to avoid accidental retention
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add a DependsOn clause to ensure proper order of deletion
Why it's wrong here
DependsOn affects creation order, not deletion behavior
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.
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: Set the DeletionPolicy attribute to 'Delete' on the EIP resource — By default, CloudFormation deletes the EIP when the stack is deleted. However, if the EIP is associated with an instance, the association may prevent deletion. To ensure release, set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Delete' (which is default) and ensure that the EIP is not associated with an ENI that is not being deleted. Option A is correct. Option B (DependsOn) does not affect deletion. Option C (Retain policy) would keep the EIP, causing charges. Option D (manual release) is not automated.
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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