- A
Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Retain' on the DBInstance resource.
DeletionPolicy: Retain prevents deletion.
- B
Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Snapshot' on the DBInstance.
Why wrong: Snapshot takes a snapshot before deletion, but still deletes the instance.
- C
Set the 'RetainOnDeletion' property to 'true' on the DBInstance.
Why wrong: No such property exists.
- D
Set the 'DeletionProtection' property to 'true' on the DBInstance.
Why wrong: DeletionProtection is a property of the RDS instance, but CloudFormation still respects DeletionPolicy.
Question 1,505 of 1,546
How to Prevent RDS Database Deletion When Deleting CloudFormation Stack
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 CloudFormation to deploy a multi-tier application. The template includes an AWS::RDS::DBInstance resource. The administrator wants to ensure that the database is not deleted when the stack is deleted. Which CloudFormation resource property should be set?
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
✓
Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Retain' on the DBInstance resource.
Option A is correct because the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute in AWS CloudFormation controls what happens to a resource when its stack is deleted. Setting 'DeletionPolicy' to 'Retain' on the AWS::RDS::DBInstance resource ensures the database is preserved and not deleted when the stack is deleted. This is the standard mechanism for preventing accidental deletion of critical resources during stack teardown.
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.
- ✓
Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Retain' on the DBInstance resource.
Why this is correct
DeletionPolicy: Retain prevents deletion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Snapshot' on the DBInstance.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshot takes a snapshot before deletion, but still deletes the instance.
- ✗
Set the 'RetainOnDeletion' property to 'true' on the DBInstance.
Why it's wrong here
No such property exists.
- ✗
Set the 'DeletionProtection' property to 'true' on the DBInstance.
Why it's wrong here
DeletionProtection is a property of the RDS instance, but CloudFormation still respects DeletionPolicy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the RDS-specific 'DeletionProtection' property with CloudFormation's 'DeletionPolicy' attribute, assuming that enabling deletion protection on the database will prevent CloudFormation from deleting it, but CloudFormation's stack deletion bypasses that protection unless the DeletionPolicy is set to 'Retain'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'DeletionPolicy' attribute is a CloudFormation resource-level attribute that applies to all resource types, not just RDS. When set to 'Retain', CloudFormation simply removes the resource from the stack template but leaves the underlying AWS resource (e.g., the RDS DB instance) intact and running. This is particularly useful for production databases where you want to preserve data even if the stack is deleted for re-deployment or troubleshooting. Note that the 'DeletionPolicy' must be explicitly set; by default, CloudFormation deletes all resources when a stack is deleted.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
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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: Set the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute to 'Retain' on the DBInstance resource. — Option A is correct because the 'DeletionPolicy' attribute in AWS CloudFormation controls what happens to a resource when its stack is deleted. Setting 'DeletionPolicy' to 'Retain' on the AWS::RDS::DBInstance resource ensures the database is preserved and not deleted when the stack is deleted. This is the standard mechanism for preventing accidental deletion of critical resources during stack teardown.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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