Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CodeDeploy, which is the correct choice because it natively supports blue/green deployment with AWS CodeDeploy to automate traffic shifting for applications running on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. In a blue/green strategy, CodeDeploy provisions a new set of instances (the green environment), installs the new application version, and then gradually shifts traffic from the old blue environment to the green one, all while integrating with the Auto Scaling group and load balancer. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of deployment services versus infrastructure tools—a common trap is confusing CodeDeploy with CloudFormation, which manages infrastructure but not traffic shifting, or Elastic Beanstalk, which is a PaaS service not designed for existing Auto Scaling groups. Remember the mnemonic: “CodeDeploy shifts traffic; CloudFormation builds the house.”
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 SysOps administrator needs to deploy a new version of an application to an Auto Scaling group using a blue/green deployment strategy. The application runs on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. Which AWS service should be used to automate this deployment?
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why wrong: Elastic Beanstalk manages the entire environment, not just the deployment to an existing ASG.
AWS CodeDeploy
CodeDeploy supports blue/green deployments with traffic routing options.
AWS CodePipeline
Why wrong: CodePipeline orchestrates the release process but uses CodeDeploy for the actual deployment.
AWS CloudFormation
Why wrong: CloudFormation is for infrastructure provisioning, not traffic shifting.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CodeDeploy
Option C is correct. AWS CodeDeploy supports blue/green deployments for EC2 instances behind a load balancer, allowing traffic to be shifted gradually. Option A (Elastic Beanstalk) is a PaaS service, not for existing Auto Scaling groups. Option B (CloudFormation) can create infrastructure but not manage traffic shifting natively. Option D (CodePipeline) orchestrates steps but relies on CodeDeploy for the deployment.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why it's wrong here
Elastic Beanstalk manages the entire environment, not just the deployment to an existing ASG.
AWS CodeDeploy
Why this is correct
CodeDeploy supports blue/green deployments with traffic routing options.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
AWS CodePipeline
Why it's wrong here
CodePipeline orchestrates the release process but uses CodeDeploy for the actual deployment.
AWS CloudFormation
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation is for infrastructure provisioning, not traffic shifting.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. 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
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: AWS CodeDeploy — Option C is correct. AWS CodeDeploy supports blue/green deployments for EC2 instances behind a load balancer, allowing traffic to be shifted gradually. Option A (Elastic Beanstalk) is a PaaS service, not for existing Auto Scaling groups. Option B (CloudFormation) can create infrastructure but not manage traffic shifting natively. Option D (CodePipeline) orchestrates steps but relies on CodeDeploy for the deployment.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A SysOps administrator wants to deploy a new version of an application to an existing Auto Scaling group of Amazon EC2 instances. The deployment must minimize disruption by launching new instances, performing health checks, and shifting traffic to the new instances before terminating the old ones. Which AWS CodeDeploy deployment configuration should the administrator choose?
easyWhy A: The blue/green deployment configuration in AWS CodeDeploy is designed to minimize disruption by provisioning a new set of instances (green environment), performing health checks against them, and then shifting traffic from the old instances (blue environment) to the new ones before terminating the old instances. This matches the requirement of launching new instances, health-checking, and shifting traffic before termination, which is not possible with in-place deployment types like rolling or all-at-once.
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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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