- A
The region specified in the build configuration does not match the function's region.
Why wrong: That would cause a different error.
- B
The build configuration file has a syntax error.
Why wrong: Syntax errors would fail earlier.
- C
The Cloud Source Repository does not have the correct triggers.
Why wrong: Triggers are set up correctly if build starts.
- D
The Cloud Build service account lacks the necessary IAM permissions on the Cloud Functions API.
Cloud Build requires roles/cloudfunctions.developer to deploy functions.
Question 684 of 999
Fix Cloud Build PERMISSION_DENIED for Cloud Function Deployments
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 team uses Cloud Build to automatically deploy a Cloud Function on push to a repository. The build fails intermittently with 'PERMISSION_DENIED' when executing gcloud functions deploy. What is the most likely cause?
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.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the Cloud Build service account lacks the necessary IAM permissions on the Cloud Functions API, specifically the Cloud Functions Developer role. This is the most likely cause of an intermittent PERMISSION_DENIED error when deploying Cloud Functions because Cloud Build uses its default compute engine service account to execute builds, and that account must be granted the roles/cloudfunctions.developer role to invoke the gcloud functions deploy command. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this tests your understanding of service account impersonation and least-privilege IAM design, often appearing as a trap where candidates blame repository triggers or syntax errors. A common memory tip is to remember that Cloud Build is just a pipeline—it needs explicit permission to touch Cloud Functions, just like any other user. Think "Build needs Build-in permission to Function."
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 Cloud Build service account lacks the necessary IAM permissions on the Cloud Functions API.
The intermittent 'PERMISSION_DENIED' error when Cloud Build runs `gcloud functions deploy` indicates that the Cloud Build service account does not have the required IAM roles (e.g., Cloud Functions Developer or Cloud Functions Admin) on the Cloud Functions API. Cloud Build uses its default compute engine service account (or a user-specified service account) to execute build steps; if this account lacks the `cloudfunctions.functions.create` or `cloudfunctions.functions.update` permission, the deployment will fail, and the intermittent nature may be due to eventual consistency or race conditions in IAM propagation.
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 region specified in the build configuration does not match the function's region.
Why it's wrong here
That would cause a different error.
- ✗
The build configuration file has a syntax error.
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors would fail earlier.
- ✗
The Cloud Source Repository does not have the correct triggers.
Why it's wrong here
Triggers are set up correctly if build starts.
- ✓
The Cloud Build service account lacks the necessary IAM permissions on the Cloud Functions API.
Why this is correct
Cloud Build requires roles/cloudfunctions.developer to deploy functions.
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
Candidates often confuse build trigger configuration issues with runtime permission errors, leading them to incorrectly select options related to trigger misconfiguration when the error occurs during the deployment step itself. The intermittent 'PERMISSION_DENIED' points to IAM permissions for the Cloud Build service account on the Cloud Functions API.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud Build executes steps using the service account specified in the build config or the project's default compute engine service account (PROJECT_NUMBER-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com). This account must have the `cloudfunctions.functions.create` and `iam.serviceAccounts.actAs` permissions on the Cloud Functions runtime service account. The intermittent nature can occur if IAM roles are assigned via a custom role that is still propagating, or if the service account is used across multiple builds and hits a quota or caching issue. In real-world scenarios, this often happens when a team uses a shared project and the Cloud Build service account is not explicitly granted the Cloud Functions Developer role.
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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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 Cloud Build service account lacks the necessary IAM permissions on the Cloud Functions API. — The intermittent 'PERMISSION_DENIED' error when Cloud Build runs `gcloud functions deploy` indicates that the Cloud Build service account does not have the required IAM roles (e.g., Cloud Functions Developer or Cloud Functions Admin) on the Cloud Functions API. Cloud Build uses its default compute engine service account (or a user-specified service account) to execute build steps; if this account lacks the `cloudfunctions.functions.create` or `cloudfunctions.functions.update` permission, the deployment will fail, and the intermittent nature may be due to eventual consistency or race conditions in IAM propagation.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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