Quick Answer
The answer is source control repository, a build automation service, and a deployment service. These three components form the backbone of any essential CI/CD pipeline on AWS because source control stores and versions the application code, the build service compiles and packages it into artifacts, and the deployment service automates the release of those artifacts to target environments. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the pipeline’s core workflow rather than peripheral services; a common trap is confusing a monitoring service like Amazon CloudWatch or a standalone deployment tool like AWS CodeDeploy with the pipeline’s structural components. Remember that the pipeline itself must include stages for source, build, and deploy—monitoring and notification are supporting, not essential. A simple memory tip is “Source, Build, Deploy” as the three pillars, and if a service only handles one of those phases in isolation, it is not a complete pipeline component.
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 DevOps team is designing a CI/CD pipeline for a containerized application. Which THREE components are essential for a complete pipeline? (Choose three.)
AWS CodeDeploy
Why wrong: CodeDeploy is a deployment service, but not essential if using other methods.
Artifact storage
Build artifacts need to be stored for deployment.
Amazon CloudWatch
Why wrong: CloudWatch is for monitoring, not a pipeline component.
Build and test automation
Automated building and testing is a core CI/CD component.
Source control repository
Source code needs to be stored and versioned.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Artifact storage
Options A, C, and D are correct. Option B is wrong because it's a deployment service, not a pipeline component. Option E is wrong because it's a monitoring service.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS CodeDeploy
Why it's wrong here
CodeDeploy is a deployment service, but not essential if using other methods.
Artifact storage
Why this is correct
Build artifacts need to be stored for deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon CloudWatch
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch is for monitoring, not a pipeline component.
Build and test automation
Why this is correct
Automated building and testing is a core CI/CD component.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Source control repository
Why this is correct
Source code needs to be stored and versioned.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Artifact storage — Options A, C, and D are correct. Option B is wrong because it's a deployment service, not a pipeline component. Option E is wrong because it's a monitoring service.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.
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