The answer is three factors: using canary deployments to shift traffic gradually, leveraging rolling updates to replace instances incrementally, and employing a load balancer to direct traffic away from unhealthy instances. These choices minimize downtime because canary deployments allow you to validate a small percentage of traffic before a full rollout, rolling updates ensure no single point of failure by replacing instances in batches, and a load balancer automatically reroutes traffic from failing instances to healthy ones, maintaining service continuity. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of CodeDeploy’s deployment strategies and their impact on availability—a common trap is assuming smaller batch sizes reduce downtime, when in fact they increase deployment time without improving availability. Another trap is selecting “same instance type,” which is irrelevant to downtime reduction. Memory tip: think “Canary, Rolling, Load Balancer” as the three pillars of zero-downtime deployments.
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.
Which THREE factors should be considered when designing a deployment strategy using AWS CodeDeploy to minimize downtime during updates? (Choose three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a load balancer to deregister instances before deployment.
Options A, B, and D are correct. Option A ensures service continuity. Option B leverages rolling updates. Option D allows testing before full rollout. Option C is wrong because smaller batch size increases deployment time, not reduces downtime. Option E is wrong because same instance type is irrelevant.
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 a load balancer to deregister instances before deployment.
Why this is correct
Deregistering prevents traffic during update.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use a blue/green deployment to switch traffic instantly.
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use canary deployments to shift traffic gradually.
Why this is correct
Canary reduces risk by exposing only a subset of users.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deploy to all instances simultaneously to reduce total time.
Why it's wrong here
Simultaneous deployment can cause downtime if application fails.
✗
Use the same instance type for all instances.
Why it's wrong here
Instance type does not affect downtime.
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.
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: Configure a load balancer to deregister instances before deployment. — Options A, B, and D are correct. Option A ensures service continuity. Option B leverages rolling updates. Option D allows testing before full rollout. Option C is wrong because smaller batch size increases deployment time, not reduces downtime. Option E is wrong because same instance type is irrelevant.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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