Jeff’s Note #
Unlike generic exam dumps, ADH analyzes this scenario through the lens of a Real-World Lead Developer.
For DVA-C02 candidates, the confusion often lies in understanding the exact IAM role policies and permissions CodeDeploy requires. In production, this typically comes down to knowing exactly which managed policy or custom permission set must be attached to the CodeDeploy service role for correct operation. Let’s drill down.
The Certification Drill (Simulated Question) #
Scenario #
NextGenApps Inc. is rolling out a new version of its back-end service using AWS CodeDeploy to Amazon EC2 instances. The automated deployment reaches the testing phase but fails. Upon investigation, the lead developer finds error entries related to IAM_ROLE_PERMISSIONS in Amazon CloudWatch logs connected to CodeDeploy activities. The deployment group and EC2 instances themselves seem properly configured.
The Requirement: #
Identify the necessary corrective action to resolve CodeDeploy’s IAM role permissions error and enable successful application deployment.
The Options #
- A) Verify that the deployment group references the correct IAM role name assigned as the CodeDeploy service role.
- B) Attach the AWSCodeDeployRoleECS managed policy to the CodeDeploy service role.
- C) Attach the AWSCodeDeployRole managed policy to the CodeDeploy service role.
- D) Confirm that the CodeDeploy agent is installed and actively running on every instance in the deployment group.
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Correct Answer #
C.
Quick Insight: The DVA-C02 Imperative #
For Dev candidates, knowing which IAM managed policy CodeDeploy requires to assume permissions for in-place or blue/green deployments is critical to avoid permission errors during critical lifecycle hooks.
Content Locked: The Expert Analysis #
You’ve identified the answer. But do you know the implementation details that separate a Junior from a Senior?
The Expert’s Analysis #
Correct Answer #
Option C
The Winning Logic #
AWS CodeDeploy requires a service role with the AWS managed policy AWSCodeDeployRole attached to it. This role grants the necessary permissions for CodeDeploy to perform deployments on EC2 instances, such as accessing Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, and AWS CloudWatch Logs APIs during deployment lifecycle events. If this policy is missing or incorrect, IAM_ROLE_PERMISSIONS failures appear in logs.
- The AWSCodeDeployRole policy is the correct, standard managed policy meant for EC2/On-Premises deployments.
- This policy enables CodeDeploy to act on your behalf, including accessing deployment groups, managing instances, and reporting deployment status.
The Trap (Distractor Analysis): #
-
Why not A?
Verifying the role name is important but insufficient if the role’s permissions are missing or incomplete. The error specifically mentions permissions, not naming. -
Why not B?
The AWSCodeDeployRoleECS policy is designed for ECS deployments, not EC2 instances. Attaching this policy would not cover the EC2-related permissions CodeDeploy needs and thus would not resolve the error. -
Why not D?
While the CodeDeploy agent must be installed and running for deployment, the IAM_ROLE_PERMISSIONS error directly relates to IAM permission issues, not agent installation or status.
The Technical Blueprint #
# Example IAM attachment command for the CodeDeploy service role
aws iam attach-role-policy \
--role-name CodeDeployServiceRole \
--policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AWSCodeDeployRole
The Comparative Analysis #
| Option | API/Role Compatibility | Common Use Case | Correctness |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Role Naming Check | Necessary but not sufficient | Partial, won’t fix permission error |
| B | ECS Deployments only | ECS blue/green deployments | Incorrect for EC2 deployments |
| C | EC2/On-premises deployments | Standard CodeDeploy service role | Correct, resolves permission errors |
| D | CodeDeploy Agent Status | Deployment prerequisite | Relevant but unrelated to IAM errors |
Real-World Application (Practitioner Insight) #
Exam Rule #
For the exam, always attach AWSCodeDeployRole to the CodeDeploy service role when deploying to EC2 to avoid permission errors.
Real World #
In real projects, custom policies might be created for fine-grained control, but the managed policy is the best starting point during development and rapid deployment cycles.
(CTA) Stop Guessing, Start Mastering #
Disclaimer
This is a study note based on simulated scenarios for the AWS DVA-C02 exam.