Change sets

5 minutes 5 Questions

Change sets in AWS CloudFormation allow you to preview how your proposed changes to a stack will affect the existing resources and configurations. Instead of applying changes directly to a stack, users create change sets which include a summary of changes, resource replacements, and possible downtimes. Change sets enhance the predictability and control for updates, helping users prevent accidental resource modifications, resource deletion or the creation of unnecessary or unintended resources during updates. Change sets can be created, viewed, and executed from the AWS Management Console or CLI.

Guide: Understanding AWS CloudFormation Change Sets

What is AWS CloudFormation Change Sets?
AWS CloudFormation Change Sets is a service which offers the capability to see how proposed changes might impact your running resources before implementing them. It provides a summary of proposed changes to review prior to execution.

Why are Change Sets important?
This feature is crucial as it provides risk management for changes to AWS resources, by providing users with a preview of the effects of proposed changes, avoiding unintentional impact to live environments.

How AWS CloudFormation Change Sets work?
When you create a change set, CloudFormation automatically compares the current stack with the changes you've proposed. It then produces a summary of changes that shows how the changes may impact your resources before the changes carried out.

Exam Tips: Answers Questions on Change Sets
1) Understand that change sets allow previewing changes before applying them, reducing risks.
2) Remember that creating a change set does not implement the proposed changes unless it's executed.
3) Be aware that change sets can be deleted if not needed.
4) Know the difference between creating, viewing, executing and deleting change sets.
5) Use the fact that a stack policy can protect certain resources during an update to your advantage in answering questions.

Note: AWS CloudFormation Change Sets is a vital topic for Solution Architect exam, understanding its capability and functionality can improve your score in the exam.

Test mode:

Exam (Timed)

Practice (With explanations)

Start practice test

Question 1

In which scenarios would you use a Change Set instead of directly updating an AWS CloudFormation stack?

When you want to rollback an update When you want to delete and re-create resources To preview and analyze the changes before applying them When adding resources to an existing stack

Correct Answer: To preview and analyze the changes before applying them

Creating a Change Set enables users to preview the changes and analyze their potential impact before actually applying them to the stack. This helps avoid unintended consequences during updates.

Question 2

You are about to update an AWS CloudFormation stack and want to understand the potential impacts of the changes. How can you analyze the effects of the proposed changes?

Manually compare the old and new templates Use a Change Set Update the stack and then rollback the changes Deploy a new stack and compare the results

Correct Answer: Use a Change Set

By creating a Change Set, AWS CloudFormation computes those resources that would be affected and the effects on them. This provides a useful assessment of the potential impacts before actually making the changes.

Question 3

You are working with a CloudFormation Stack and you have made changes to a template; How can you review the changes before applying them to the stack?

Manually update each resource in the stack Delete the stack and re-create it with the updated template Rollback the AWS CloudFormation stack Create a Change Set

Correct Answer: Create a Change Set

Change Sets allow you to preview changes before they are made to a CloudFormation Stack. This is useful for understanding the impact of changes before they are actually applied.

Go Premium