- A
Add an approval stage in the pipeline using the Amazon SNS topic as a notification method.
Why wrong: SNS is used for notifications within the approval action, but the approval action itself must be of type 'Approval' in CodePipeline, not just an SNS topic. The action is not an SNS topic.
- B
Add a manual approval action in the pipeline using the AWS CodePipeline approval action type.
CodePipeline provides a built-in approval action that can be added to any stage. When configured, the pipeline pauses and waits for manual approval, with optional SNS notifications.
- C
Use an AWS CloudFormation change set to require manual approval.
Why wrong: CloudFormation change sets allow you to review changes before execution, but they are not integrated into CodePipeline stages as a simple approval step. They require manual execution outside the pipeline.
- D
Create a separate pipeline for production and trigger it manually.
Why wrong: This approach adds complexity and does not implement a manual approval step within the existing pipeline, which is less efficient.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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. The pipeline has a source stage (Amazon S3) and a deploy stage (AWS Elastic Beanstalk). The SysOps administrator needs to add a manual approval step before the deployment proceeds to the production environment. Which action should the administrator take?
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 manual approval action in the pipeline using the AWS CodePipeline approval action type.
Option B is correct because AWS CodePipeline natively supports a manual approval action type that can be added as a stage in the pipeline. This action pauses the pipeline execution until an authorized user manually approves or rejects the deployment, allowing the SysOps administrator to gate the deployment to the production environment without external services.
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.
- ✗
Add an approval stage in the pipeline using the Amazon SNS topic as a notification method.
Why it's wrong here
SNS is used for notifications within the approval action, but the approval action itself must be of type 'Approval' in CodePipeline, not just an SNS topic. The action is not an SNS topic.
- ✓
Add a manual approval action in the pipeline using the AWS CodePipeline approval action type.
Why this is correct
CodePipeline provides a built-in approval action that can be added to any stage. When configured, the pipeline pauses and waits for manual approval, with optional SNS notifications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an AWS CloudFormation change set to require manual approval.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation change sets allow you to review changes before execution, but they are not integrated into CodePipeline stages as a simple approval step. They require manual execution outside the pipeline.
- ✗
Create a separate pipeline for production and trigger it manually.
Why it's wrong here
This approach adds complexity and does not implement a manual approval step within the existing pipeline, which is less efficient.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse notification mechanisms (like SNS) with the actual approval action, or assume that external tools like CloudFormation change sets can serve as manual approval gates within a pipeline.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The CodePipeline manual approval action uses a custom action type with category 'Approval' and owner 'AWS'. When the pipeline reaches this stage, it creates an approval request that can be reviewed via the AWS Management Console, CLI, or SDK. The pipeline remains in a 'Waiting' state until the approval is granted or rejected, and the action can be configured with optional SNS notifications to alert approvers via email or SMS.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Add a manual approval action in the pipeline using the AWS CodePipeline approval action type. — Option B is correct because AWS CodePipeline natively supports a manual approval action type that can be added as a stage in the pipeline. This action pauses the pipeline execution until an authorized user manually approves or rejects the deployment, allowing the SysOps administrator to gate the deployment to the production environment without external services.
What should I do if I get this SOA-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: Jun 11, 2026
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