- A
Use EC2 Image Builder to create and test the new AMI, then use AWS CodePipeline to automatically update the launch template and perform a rolling instance refresh.
EC2 Image Builder automates AMI creation and testing; CodePipeline orchestrates the deployment pipeline.
- B
Use AWS CodePipeline to run a script that updates the launch template with the new AMI ID and triggers an instance refresh.
Why wrong: This approach still requires manual script maintenance and does not include automated testing of the AMI.
- C
Use AWS CloudFormation with a custom resource that validates the AMI and updates the Auto Scaling group.
Why wrong: CloudFormation is not designed for continuous deployment of AMIs; it requires manual triggering.
- D
Use AWS CodeDeploy to deploy the application code directly to the existing instances, bypassing the AMI update.
Why wrong: This does not use the AMI-based deployment strategy and may lead to configuration drift.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use EC2 Image Builder to create and test the new AMI, then use AWS CodePipeline to automatically update the launch template and perform a rolling instance refresh. This solution is correct because EC2 Image Builder automates the entire AMI creation pipeline, including validation and compliance testing, ensuring only a safe, tested image is produced, while CodePipeline handles the orchestration to update the launch template with the new AMI ID and trigger a rolling instance refresh, eliminating the manual step that caused the misconfiguration. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of combining infrastructure-as-code with image lifecycle management—a common trap is thinking a simple Lambda function or manual refresh suffices, but the exam emphasizes fully automated, auditable pipelines for production workloads. Remember the mnemonic: “Image Builder bakes, CodePipeline shakes” to recall that the builder creates the golden image and the pipeline deploys it safely.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company runs a production web application on AWS using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) with a target group of EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. The application uses a custom Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that includes the web server and application code. The Auto Scaling group has a launch template that references the AMI. The company updates the application code weekly and creates a new AMI version. The operations team manually updates the launch template to reference the new AMI and then initiates an instance refresh. Recently, a misconfiguration caused the launch template to point to an old AMI after an instance refresh, resulting in a rollback of the application code. The company wants to automate the deployment process to ensure that new AMIs are deployed consistently and safely. Which solution meets these requirements?
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 EC2 Image Builder to create and test the new AMI, then use AWS CodePipeline to automatically update the launch template and perform a rolling instance refresh.
Option A is correct because EC2 Image Builder automates the creation, testing, and validation of AMIs, ensuring only compliant images are produced. AWS CodePipeline can then automatically update the launch template with the new AMI ID and trigger a rolling instance refresh, eliminating manual steps and preventing misconfigurations like pointing to an old AMI.
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 EC2 Image Builder to create and test the new AMI, then use AWS CodePipeline to automatically update the launch template and perform a rolling instance refresh.
Why this is correct
EC2 Image Builder automates AMI creation and testing; CodePipeline orchestrates the deployment pipeline.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CodePipeline to run a script that updates the launch template with the new AMI ID and triggers an instance refresh.
Why it's wrong here
This approach still requires manual script maintenance and does not include automated testing of the AMI.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudFormation with a custom resource that validates the AMI and updates the Auto Scaling group.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation is not designed for continuous deployment of AMIs; it requires manual triggering.
- ✗
Use AWS CodeDeploy to deploy the application code directly to the existing instances, bypassing the AMI update.
Why it's wrong here
This does not use the AMI-based deployment strategy and may lead to configuration drift.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose a simpler automation option (like Option B) that updates the launch template but lacks the integrated AMI creation and testing pipeline, failing to address the root cause of deploying an untested or incorrect AMI.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EC2 Image Builder uses a pipeline that includes source, build, test, and distribute stages, integrating with Systems Manager for validation. CodePipeline can invoke a Lambda function to update the launch template's AMI ID via the AWS SDK and then call the Auto Scaling group's StartInstanceRefresh API with a 'Rolling' strategy, which gradually replaces instances while respecting health checks and cooldown periods. This approach ensures that the new AMI is validated before deployment and that rollbacks are automated if health checks fail.
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 PAS-C01 question test?
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use EC2 Image Builder to create and test the new AMI, then use AWS CodePipeline to automatically update the launch template and perform a rolling instance refresh. — Option A is correct because EC2 Image Builder automates the creation, testing, and validation of AMIs, ensuring only compliant images are produced. AWS CodePipeline can then automatically update the launch template with the new AMI ID and trigger a rolling instance refresh, eliminating manual steps and preventing misconfigurations like pointing to an old AMI.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 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: Jun 11, 2026
This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.
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