- A
The parent stack's update policy is set to 'CONTINUE' by default. To prevent this, set 'OnFailure' to 'ROLLBACK' in the stack update options.
This option is incorrect because 'OnFailure' is a parameter that only applies to stack creation, not updates. The correct parameter for update stack rollback configuration is 'RollbackOnFailure'.
- B
The parent stack was created without the '--capabilities' parameter, so it cannot roll back.
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. The '--capabilities' parameter is for acknowledging IAM capabilities, not for rollback behavior.
- C
The nested stack failure automatically triggers a rollback of the parent stack, but the rollback also failed.
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. The default update behavior is to continue on failure, not to automatically trigger a rollback.
- D
The parent stack is configured with 'OnFailure' set to 'DO_NOTHING'. Change it to 'DELETE'.
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. 'OnFailure' is a creation-only parameter, and 'DO_NOTHING' is not a valid setting. For update failures, the default is to continue.
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. 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 CloudFormation to deploy a multi-tier web application. The template includes a nested stack for the database layer. When updating the stack, the database stack fails with a 'CREATE_FAILED' status, but the parent stack continues updating other resources. What is the most likely cause and best practice to prevent 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.
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
The parent stack's update policy is set to 'CONTINUE' by default. To prevent this, set 'OnFailure' to 'ROLLBACK' in the stack update options.
None of the provided options are correct. The default update behavior in CloudFormation is to continue on failure. To ensure rollback on update failure, you should set 'RollbackOnFailure' to true in the stack update options (e.g., using the '--rollback-configuration' parameter in the AWS CLI). Option A incorrectly references the creation-only parameter 'OnFailure', while options B, C, and D are factually incorrect. The best practice is to enable rollback on update failure by configuring RollbackOnFailure.
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 parent stack's update policy is set to 'CONTINUE' by default. To prevent this, set 'OnFailure' to 'ROLLBACK' in the stack update options.
Why this is correct
This option is incorrect because 'OnFailure' is a parameter that only applies to stack creation, not updates. The correct parameter for update stack rollback configuration is 'RollbackOnFailure'.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The parent stack was created without the '--capabilities' parameter, so it cannot roll back.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. The '--capabilities' parameter is for acknowledging IAM capabilities, not for rollback behavior.
- ✗
The nested stack failure automatically triggers a rollback of the parent stack, but the rollback also failed.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. The default update behavior is to continue on failure, not to automatically trigger a rollback.
- ✗
The parent stack is configured with 'OnFailure' set to 'DO_NOTHING'. Change it to 'DELETE'.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. 'OnFailure' is a creation-only parameter, and 'DO_NOTHING' is not a valid setting. For update failures, the default is to continue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the 'OnFailure' parameter (which only applies to stack creation) with update behavior, and mistakenly think that nested stack failures always trigger an automatic rollback of the parent stack, when in fact the default update policy is to continue.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudFormation's stack update behavior is governed by the 'OnFailure' parameter only during stack creation; for updates, the equivalent control is the '--disable-rollback' flag (CLI) or the 'DisableRollback' property (API). When a nested stack fails during an update, CloudFormation marks that resource as 'UPDATE_FAILED' and, by default, continues updating other resources unless you explicitly set 'DisableRollback' to false (which is the default, but the behavior differs: if a resource fails, the stack enters 'UPDATE_ROLLBACK_IN_PROGRESS' only if rollback is enabled). In practice, this means that without explicit rollback configuration, a failed nested stack can leave the parent stack in a partially updated state, leading to inconsistent infrastructure.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The parent stack's update policy is set to 'CONTINUE' by default. To prevent this, set 'OnFailure' to 'ROLLBACK' in the stack update options. — None of the provided options are correct. The default update behavior in CloudFormation is to continue on failure. To ensure rollback on update failure, you should set 'RollbackOnFailure' to true in the stack update options (e.g., using the '--rollback-configuration' parameter in the AWS CLI). Option A incorrectly references the creation-only parameter 'OnFailure', while options B, C, and D are factually incorrect. The best practice is to enable rollback on update failure by configuring RollbackOnFailure.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "most likely". 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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