- A
Use Amazon CloudWatch Events to trigger a rollback if vulnerabilities are found after deployment.
Why wrong: Rollback after deployment is reactive; scanning should be proactive before deployment.
- B
Add a security scanning stage in the pipeline after the build stage and before the deploy stage.
Gates deployment after security scan.
- C
Use AWS CodeDeploy to perform security scanning during deployment.
Why wrong: CodeDeploy does not have built-in security scanning.
- D
Configure the pipeline to run security scanning only in the deploy stage.
Why wrong: Scanning after deployment is too late; vulnerable code may be deployed.
- E
Configure the pipeline to fail if the security scanning stage returns a non-zero exit code.
Failing the pipeline prevents deployment of vulnerable code.
How to Integrate a Security Scanning Stage in a CI/CD Pipeline
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 engineer is designing a CI/CD pipeline for a microservices architecture. The pipeline must ensure that only code that passes security scanning can proceed to deployment. Which TWO actions should the engineer take? (Choose TWO.)
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
Add a security scanning stage in the pipeline after the build stage and before the deploy stage.
Option B is correct because integrating a security scanning stage after the build stage and before the deploy stage ensures that only code that has passed security checks proceeds to deployment. This aligns with the principle of shifting security left in the CI/CD pipeline, preventing vulnerable artifacts from reaching production environments.
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 Amazon CloudWatch Events to trigger a rollback if vulnerabilities are found after deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Rollback after deployment is reactive; scanning should be proactive before deployment.
- ✓
Add a security scanning stage in the pipeline after the build stage and before the deploy stage.
Why this is correct
Gates deployment after security scan.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CodeDeploy to perform security scanning during deployment.
Why it's wrong here
CodeDeploy does not have built-in security scanning.
- ✗
Configure the pipeline to run security scanning only in the deploy stage.
Why it's wrong here
Scanning after deployment is too late; vulnerable code may be deployed.
- ✓
Configure the pipeline to fail if the security scanning stage returns a non-zero exit code.
Why this is correct
Failing the pipeline prevents deployment of vulnerable code.
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 post-deployment monitoring (CloudWatch Events) with pre-deployment gating, or mistakenly think AWS CodeDeploy can perform security scanning, when in fact it only handles deployment orchestration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In AWS CodePipeline, a security scanning stage can be implemented using a custom action or an AWS Lambda function that invokes tools like Snyk, Trivy, or Amazon Inspector. The pipeline's transition rules ensure that if the scanning stage fails (non-zero exit code), the pipeline execution stops, and the artifact is not promoted to the deploy stage. This approach enforces a gate that blocks vulnerable code from reaching production, which is critical for compliance with security standards like PCI DSS or SOC 2.
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.
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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: Add a security scanning stage in the pipeline after the build stage and before the deploy stage. — Option B is correct because integrating a security scanning stage after the build stage and before the deploy stage ensures that only code that has passed security checks proceeds to deployment. This aligns with the principle of shifting security left in the CI/CD pipeline, preventing vulnerable artifacts from reaching production environments.
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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