- A
The SSL certificate is not yet provisioned.
Why wrong: Unprovisioned certificate would give SSL/TLS errors, not 404.
- B
The Cloud Run service does not have the correct IAM permissions.
Why wrong: IAM errors would be 403 or 401.
- C
The DNS CNAME record is not configured correctly.
Why wrong: Incorrect DNS would prevent mapping, not cause 404.
- D
The domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region.
Domain mapping must match the exact service name and region.
Question 354 of 999
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 deploys a web app on Cloud Run and configures a custom domain mapping with a managed SSL certificate. After mapping, the domain returns 404 errors. The Cloud Run service is accessible via its default URL. What is the most likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region.
The most likely issue is that the custom domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region. When a custom domain is mapped to Cloud Run, the DNS CNAME must point to the domain mapping's resolved target (e.g., `ghs.googlehosted.com`), not to the default Cloud Run URL. If the mapping points to a different service or region, the request reaches Cloud Run but the service cannot handle it, resulting in a 404 error from the Cloud Run frontend. The default URL works because it bypasses the custom domain mapping and routes directly to the correct service.
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.
- ✗
The SSL certificate is not yet provisioned.
Why it's wrong here
Unprovisioned certificate would give SSL/TLS errors, not 404.
- ✗
The Cloud Run service does not have the correct IAM permissions.
Why it's wrong here
IAM errors would be 403 or 401.
- ✗
The DNS CNAME record is not configured correctly.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect DNS would prevent mapping, not cause 404.
- ✓
The domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region.
Why this is correct
Domain mapping must match the exact service name and region.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google often tests the distinction between DNS resolution failures (which prevent reaching the server) and HTTP-level errors (which indicate the server received the request but cannot fulfill it), leading candidates to incorrectly blame DNS when the actual issue is a misconfigured domain mapping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Run custom domain mapping creates a `DomainMapping` resource that associates a domain with a specific service and region. The DNS CNAME must point to the domain mapping's `status.resolvedRecordSet.name` (e.g., `ghs.googlehosted.com`), which is a Google-managed load balancer endpoint. If the mapping is misconfigured (e.g., pointing to a different service name or region), the load balancer receives the request but cannot route it to the intended service, returning a 404 because no route matches. The default Cloud Run URL (`*.run.app`) bypasses this mapping entirely and routes directly to the service's internal endpoint.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region. — The most likely issue is that the custom domain mapping is pointing to a different Cloud Run service or region. When a custom domain is mapped to Cloud Run, the DNS CNAME must point to the domain mapping's resolved target (e.g., `ghs.googlehosted.com`), not to the default Cloud Run URL. If the mapping points to a different service or region, the request reaches Cloud Run but the service cannot handle it, resulting in a 404 error from the Cloud Run frontend. The default URL works because it bypasses the custom domain mapping and routes directly to the correct service.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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