- A
Use the 'artifacts' section to define failure conditions.
Why wrong: Artifacts are for output, not failure.
- B
Use the 'env' section to set a variable that fails the build.
Why wrong: Environment variables do not cause failure.
- C
Use the 'reports' section to mark the build as failed if tests fail.
Why wrong: Reports do not cause build failure; they only report results.
- D
Use the 'phases' section with a command that exits with a non-zero status on failure.
Non-zero exit causes build failure.
Question 1,411 of 1,750
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. 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 team uses AWS CodeBuild to run security scans on code before deployment. They want to ensure that if the security scan fails, the build is marked as FAILED and no further pipeline stages execute. What should they add to the buildspec?
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 the 'phases' section with a command that exits with a non-zero status on failure.
Option D is correct because in AWS CodeBuild, the build process is controlled by the 'phases' section of the buildspec file. Each phase runs a series of commands sequentially, and if any command exits with a non-zero status (e.g., a security scan tool returns a failure exit code), CodeBuild immediately marks the build as FAILED and stops further execution. This ensures that no subsequent pipeline stages are triggered, as the build status propagates to the pipeline.
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.
- ✗
Use the 'artifacts' section to define failure conditions.
Why it's wrong here
Artifacts are for output, not failure.
- ✗
Use the 'env' section to set a variable that fails the build.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables do not cause failure.
- ✗
Use the 'reports' section to mark the build as failed if tests fail.
Why it's wrong here
Reports do not cause build failure; they only report results.
- ✓
Use the 'phases' section with a command that exits with a non-zero status on failure.
Why this is correct
Non-zero exit causes build failure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 'reports' section (which only generates test reports) with the mechanism that actually fails the build, forgetting that only the exit code of commands in the 'phases' section determines build success or failure.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Artifacts are for output, not failure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CodeBuild executes each phase (install, pre_build, build, post_build) as a shell script. If any command returns a non-zero exit code, the build status is set to FAILED and subsequent phases are skipped. This behavior is consistent with Unix process exit codes (0 = success, non-zero = failure). In a real-world scenario, a security scan tool like Bandit or Trivy returns exit code 1 when vulnerabilities are found, and placing that command in the 'build' phase with no '|| true' override will automatically fail the build and halt the pipeline.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
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: Use the 'phases' section with a command that exits with a non-zero status on failure. — Option D is correct because in AWS CodeBuild, the build process is controlled by the 'phases' section of the buildspec file. Each phase runs a series of commands sequentially, and if any command exits with a non-zero status (e.g., a security scan tool returns a failure exit code), CodeBuild immediately marks the build as FAILED and stops further execution. This ensures that no subsequent pipeline stages are triggered, as the build status propagates to the pipeline.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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