- A
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot'
Correct. 'Snapshot' is a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. It takes a snapshot of the old Lambda function before replacement, which can be used for rollback. While it doesn't directly ensure zero downtime, it is the only valid option among the choices that can support an update without immediate failure.
- B
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Replace'
Why wrong: Incorrect. 'Replace' is not a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. Valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete. Therefore, this option is factually wrong.
- C
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Retain'
Why wrong: Incorrect. 'Retain' would keep the old Lambda function after replacement, but this can cause naming conflicts because the new function cannot have the same name. Additionally, it may lead to resource leaks and does not inherently prevent downtime.
- D
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Rollback'
Why wrong: Incorrect. 'Rollback' is not a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. Valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete.
DOP-C02 UpdateReplacePolicy 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. A key principle to apply: updateReplacePolicy. 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 microservices architecture. The Operations team needs to update a stack that contains a Lambda function and an API Gateway REST API. They want to ensure that the Lambda function code is updated without downtime. Which update policy should be used for the Lambda function in the CloudFormation template?
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
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot'
The correct answer is A, UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot'. This policy is used to take a snapshot of the old Lambda function's code and configuration before it is replaced during a stack update. While this does not directly prevent downtime, it provides a means for quick rollback if needed, and it is the only valid policy among the options that supports an update scenario without resorting to invalid values. Options B and D are not valid values for UpdateReplacePolicy; valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete. Option C (Retain) would keep the old resource, which can cause naming conflicts for Lambda functions because the new function cannot use the same name.
Key principle: UpdateReplacePolicy
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot'
Why this is correct
Correct. 'Snapshot' is a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. It takes a snapshot of the old Lambda function before replacement, which can be used for rollback. While it doesn't directly ensure zero downtime, it is the only valid option among the choices that can support an update without immediate failure.
Related concept
UpdateReplacePolicy
- ✗
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Replace'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'Replace' is not a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. Valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete. Therefore, this option is factually wrong.
- ✗
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Retain'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'Retain' would keep the old Lambda function after replacement, but this can cause naming conflicts because the new function cannot have the same name. Additionally, it may lead to resource leaks and does not inherently prevent downtime.
- ✗
Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Rollback'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'Rollback' is not a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy. Valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may mistakenly think 'Replace' is a valid value for UpdateReplacePolicy, or they might confuse UpdateReplacePolicy with DeletionPolicy. In reality, UpdateReplacePolicy only supports Snapshot, Retain, and Delete. For zero-downtime updates of Lambda functions, the recommended approach is to use versioning and aliases, not an UpdateReplacePolicy alone.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when CloudFormation replaces a Lambda function with `UpdateReplacePolicy: Replace`, it creates the new function first, updates the API Gateway integration to point to the new function's ARN, and then deletes the old function. This is possible because Lambda function ARNs are immutable and CloudFormation can manage the transition atomically. A real-world scenario where this matters is during a blue/green deployment of a microservice, where the API Gateway must not serve 5xx errors during the switchover.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- UpdateReplacePolicy
- Snapshot
- Lambda Function Update
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
UpdateReplacePolicy
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. UpdateReplacePolicy Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review updateReplacePolicy, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Configuration Management and IaC — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Configuration Management and IaC practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DOP-C02 questions
1,750 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DOP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DOP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuration Management and IaC practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Configuration Management and IaC.
Resilient Cloud Solutions practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Resilient Cloud Solutions.
Monitoring and Logging practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Monitoring and Logging.
Incident and Event Response practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Incident and Event Response.
Security and Compliance practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
SDLC Automation practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to SDLC Automation.
DOP-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 fundamentals.
DOP-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 scenario.
DOP-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DOP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — UpdateReplacePolicy.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot' — The correct answer is A, UpdateReplacePolicy of 'Snapshot'. This policy is used to take a snapshot of the old Lambda function's code and configuration before it is replaced during a stack update. While this does not directly prevent downtime, it provides a means for quick rollback if needed, and it is the only valid policy among the options that supports an update scenario without resorting to invalid values. Options B and D are not valid values for UpdateReplacePolicy; valid values are Snapshot, Retain, and Delete. Option C (Retain) would keep the old resource, which can cause naming conflicts for Lambda functions because the new function cannot use the same name.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review updateReplacePolicy, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
UpdateReplacePolicy
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More DOP-C02 practice questions
- A company uses AWS CodePipeline with a multi-branch strategy. A new feature branch triggers a pipeline that runs unit te…
- A development team uses AWS CodeBuild to compile a Java application and run unit tests. The build takes 30 minutes, but…
- A company uses AWS CodePipeline with multiple stages: Source (Amazon S3), Build (AWS CodeBuild), and Deploy (AWS CodeDep…
- A company uses AWS CodeCommit for source control. Developers frequently push large binary files (e.g., compiled JARs) to…
- A company runs a Stateful application on EC2 that requires sticky sessions. They use an ALB with duration-based stickine…
- An organization uses AWS CodePipeline to orchestrate deployments to multiple environments (dev, test, prod). Each enviro…
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.