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Deploying applications →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Restrict Deployments to Approved Images from Artifact Registry Using Binary Authorization

This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.

An organization deploys a critical application on GKE with multiple namespaces. They want to enforce that only certain images from approved Artifact Registry repositories can be deployed in the production namespace. Which GKE feature should they use?

Quick Answer

The answer is Binary Authorization. This GKE feature enforces deploy-time security policies by requiring that only container images with valid cryptographic attestations from approved sources, such as specific Artifact Registry repositories, can be deployed into a cluster. For the production namespace scenario, Binary Authorization integrates with Artifact Registry to verify that each image has been signed by an authorized authority before allowing the pod to run, effectively blocking any unapproved or untrusted images. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this question tests your understanding of GKE security controls and the distinction between admission controllers and network or identity tools—a common trap is confusing Binary Authorization with Network Policies (which control traffic, not image provenance) or with deprecated PodSecurityPolicies (which are not image-based). Remember the mnemonic: “Binary checks the bits before the pod sits”—it’s the gatekeeper for approved images, not for who can access the cluster or how pods communicate.

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

✓

Binary Authorization

Binary Authorization is the correct GKE feature because it enforces deployment-time policy controls that require container images to be signed by trusted authorities and originate from approved Artifact Registry repositories. By configuring an admission webhook with Binary Authorization, the organization can create an attestation policy that blocks any pod in the production namespace from running unless its image has a valid cryptographic signature from a trusted signer and the image path matches an allowed Artifact Registry host.

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.

  • ✓

    Binary Authorization

    Why this is correct

    Binary Authorization enforces policies on container images based on attestations.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    Network Policies

    Why it's wrong here

    Network Policies control pod network traffic, not image provenance.

  • ✗

    Workload Identity

    Why it's wrong here

    Workload Identity manages service account access, not image policies.

  • ✗

    Pod Security Policies (deprecated)

    Why it's wrong here

    PSP is deprecated and does not restrict image sources.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The Google PCD exam often tests the distinction between admission control features (Binary Authorization) and runtime security features (Pod Security Policies, Network Policies). Candidates may mistakenly choose Pod Security Policies because they associate 'security' with pod restrictions, not realizing PSPs do not enforce image source or signature requirements.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Binary Authorization integrates with GKE via the Binary Authorization admission controller, which intercepts all pod creation requests and checks the image's attestations against a policy stored in the Binary Authorization API. The policy can specify allowed attestors (e.g., using Cloud KMS keys) and allowed image paths (e.g., us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/my-project/production/*). If an image lacks a valid attestation or comes from an unapproved repository, the admission controller rejects the pod creation with a clear error message, ensuring only signed, approved images run in the production namespace.

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.

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: Binary Authorization — Binary Authorization is the correct GKE feature because it enforces deployment-time policy controls that require container images to be signed by trusted authorities and originate from approved Artifact Registry repositories. By configuring an admission webhook with Binary Authorization, the organization can create an attestation policy that blocks any pod in the production namespace from running unless its image has a valid cryptographic signature from a trusted signer and the image path matches an allowed Artifact Registry host.

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.

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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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.