SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
A SysOps administrator is troubleshooting a failed AWS CloudFormation stack creation. The stack includes an AWS::Lambda::Function resource. The error message states: 'The runtime parameter of nodejs8.10 is no longer supported.' The administrator needs to resolve this with minimal changes. What should the administrator do?
⚠ Common exam trap
SOA-C02 often tests whether candidates choose manual console fixes or code rewrites when the root cause is a deprecated runtime in the CloudFormation template — the minimal fix is updating the template.
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
✓
Update the CloudFormation template to use a supported Node.js runtime, such as nodejs14.x.
Updating the CloudFormation template to use a supported Node.js runtime (e.g., nodejs14.x) is the minimal-change fix because the error is caused by an unsupported runtime parameter in the template. Changing the template and redeploying resolves the stack creation failure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Modify the Lambda function code to use Python 3.8.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the function code to Python 3.8 would require a complete rewrite of the Node.js logic and introduce further testing/deployment overhead. Moreover, it does not address the root cause: the CloudFormation template still explicitly declares the deprecated nodejs8.10 runtime, which AWS no longer accepts during stack operations. The minimal fix is to modify the runtime property in the template, not the code language.
- ✗
Manually update the runtime in the AWS Lambda console after the stack creation fails.
Why it's wrong here
If stack creation fails, the Lambda function is never provisioned, so there is no console runtime to update. Even if the function existed, manually changing the runtime in the console would cause CloudFormation to detect drift because the template remains on nodejs8.10, and the stack would still be in a failed or inconsistent state. The proper resolution is to correct the template runtime and re-run the stack update/create.
- ✓
Update the CloudFormation template to use a supported Node.js runtime, such as nodejs14.x.
Why this is correct
Updating the CloudFormation template's Runtime property from nodejs8.10 to a supported version like nodejs14.x directly resolves the deprecation error and lets AWS re-validate the template successfully. This is the minimal configuration change that preserves the existing Node.js code while making the stack deployable. After updating the template, the stack can be recreated or updated without further code modifications.
- ✗
Wait for AWS to re-enable the nodejs8.10 runtime.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Lambda runtime deprecations are permanent lifecycle events; nodejs8.10 has reached end-of-life and AWS will not re-enable it. The runtime has been retired because it no longer receives security updates and is not supported by the Lambda service. Continuing to wait leaves the stack un-deployable and potentially exposes the application to vulnerabilities if the function were somehow invoked.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
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.