- A
The pipeline does not have a VPC endpoint to connect to the instances.
Why wrong: CodePipeline does not require a VPC endpoint; it uses APIs via internet or VPC endpoints if configured, but that is not the most likely cause.
- B
The IAM role attached to the instances does not have permissions for CodeDeploy.
Why wrong: While IAM permissions are important, the error specifically says the agent is not responding, implying the agent is not installed or running.
- C
The CodeDeploy agent is not installed on the EC2 instances.
The CodeDeploy agent must be installed and running on each instance for CodeDeploy to deploy applications.
- D
The Application Load Balancer is not configured with a target group.
Why wrong: The ALB target group configuration is unrelated to the CodeDeploy agent responding.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the CodeDeploy agent is not installed on the EC2 instances, which is the most likely cause of the CodePipeline deploy stage failure. CodeDeploy relies on a lightweight agent running on each target instance to poll for and execute deployment instructions; without this agent, the service cannot communicate with the instance, resulting in a "not responding" error. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the deployment prerequisites for CodeDeploy, often appearing as a trap where candidates might incorrectly blame the load balancer or IAM roles. A common memory tip is to think of the agent as the "middleman" — if it is missing, no deployment can proceed, regardless of other configurations. Remember the mnemonic "AGENT = Action Gets Executed, No agent = No deployment."
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and 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 company uses AWS CodePipeline to deploy a web application to Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. During a deployment, the pipeline fails at the Deploy stage with an error indicating that the CodeDeploy agent is not responding. The instances are in an Auto Scaling group. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The CodeDeploy agent is not installed on the EC2 instances.
The CodeDeploy agent must be installed and running on the EC2 instances to receive deployment instructions. If the agent is not installed or is not running, the deployment will fail. Option B is correct because the agent is required for CodeDeploy to deploy to EC2. Option A is wrong because CodePipeline does not require a VPC endpoint. Option C is wrong because IAM roles are assigned to the instance profile, not directly to instances. Option D is wrong because CodeDeploy can deploy to instances without an Application Load Balancer.
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.
- ✗
The pipeline does not have a VPC endpoint to connect to the instances.
Why it's wrong here
CodePipeline does not require a VPC endpoint; it uses APIs via internet or VPC endpoints if configured, but that is not the most likely cause.
- ✗
The IAM role attached to the instances does not have permissions for CodeDeploy.
Why it's wrong here
While IAM permissions are important, the error specifically says the agent is not responding, implying the agent is not installed or running.
- ✓
The CodeDeploy agent is not installed on the EC2 instances.
Why this is correct
The CodeDeploy agent must be installed and running on each instance for CodeDeploy to deploy applications.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The Application Load Balancer is not configured with a target group.
Why it's wrong here
The ALB target group configuration is unrelated to the CodeDeploy agent responding.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SOA-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.
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Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The CodeDeploy agent is not installed on the EC2 instances. — The CodeDeploy agent must be installed and running on the EC2 instances to receive deployment instructions. If the agent is not installed or is not running, the deployment will fail. Option B is correct because the agent is required for CodeDeploy to deploy to EC2. Option A is wrong because CodePipeline does not require a VPC endpoint. Option C is wrong because IAM roles are assigned to the instance profile, not directly to instances. Option D is wrong because CodeDeploy can deploy to instances without an Application Load Balancer.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SOA-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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SOA-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 SOA-C02 exam.
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