Question 553 of 999
Deploying applicationshardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

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 is migrating a legacy Java application to Cloud Run. The application requires a specific Java version (Java 11) and writes temporary files to disk. The application also uses a proprietary library that is not available in public repositories. The team has created a Dockerfile that installs Java 11, copies the JAR file, and sets the entrypoint. They are using Cloud Build to build the container and deploying to Cloud Run. The deployment succeeds, but when they send requests, the application fails with a "Permission denied" error when trying to write to /tmp. The team has verified that the Cloud Run service has the correct permissions via a service account. They have also checked that the filesystem is writable at /tmp by default. What is the most likely cause of the error?

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

Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable.

Option C is correct because the most common cause of write permission errors in Cloud Run is using a base image that does not have a writable /tmp directory or has the wrong filesystem permissions. Official base images like gcr.io/distroless/java or OpenJDK images are configured with a writable /tmp. Option A is incorrect because running chmod inside the Dockerfile may not fix the underlying issue if the filesystem is read-only or if the user doesn't have sufficient privileges; plus, Cloud Run may enforce security policies that prevent such operations. Option B is incorrect because memory limits do not affect filesystem write permissions; they relate to memory allocation. Option D is incorrect because Cloud Storage FUSE is an overcomplication; the issue is simply the base image's /tmp configuration.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Add a RUN chmod 777 /tmp command in the Dockerfile before the entrypoint.

    Why it's wrong here

    If the filesystem is read-only, chmod will fail; also, this is not a recommended practice.

  • Increase the memory limit of the Cloud Run service.

    Why it's wrong here

    Memory limit does not affect filesystem write permissions.

  • Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable.

    Why this is correct

    A proper base image with the correct filesystem permissions resolves the issue.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

  • Use a Cloud Storage FUSE mount for temporary storage.

    Why it's wrong here

    While possible, it is not the most direct solution and introduces latency; the root cause is the base image.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related PCD questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCD question test?

Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable. — Option C is correct because the most common cause of write permission errors in Cloud Run is using a base image that does not have a writable /tmp directory or has the wrong filesystem permissions. Official base images like gcr.io/distroless/java or OpenJDK images are configured with a writable /tmp. Option A is incorrect because running chmod inside the Dockerfile may not fix the underlying issue if the filesystem is read-only or if the user doesn't have sufficient privileges; plus, Cloud Run may enforce security policies that prevent such operations. Option B is incorrect because memory limits do not affect filesystem write permissions; they relate to memory allocation. Option D is incorrect because Cloud Storage FUSE is an overcomplication; the issue is simply the base image's /tmp configuration.

What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related PCD questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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This PCD practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PCD exam.