- A
Use a custom service account with roles/secretmanager.admin and run Cloud Build as that account.
Why wrong: This grants excessive admin permissions.
- B
Store the API keys as build substitutions.
Why wrong: Substitutions are visible in logs and not secure.
- C
Grant the Cloud Build service account roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor on the project containing secrets.
This provides least-privilege access to secrets.
- D
Use Cloud KMS to encrypt secrets and pass them as environment variables.
Why wrong: This is not a best practice; using Secret Manager is preferred.
Question 552 of 1,000
PCDOE Practice Question: Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of bootstrapping a google cloud organization for devops. 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.
A DevOps team is bootstrapping CI/CD pipelines that need access to API keys stored in Secret Manager. The pipelines run on Cloud Build. What is the best practice for granting access to secrets?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Grant the Cloud Build service account roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor on the project containing secrets.
Option C is correct because granting the Cloud Build service account the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor role on the project containing secrets follows the principle of least privilege. Option A is wrong because using a custom service account with roles/secretmanager.admin grants excessive permissions. Option B is wrong because storing API keys as build substitutions is insecure and exposes them in logs. Option D is wrong because Cloud KMS is used for encryption, not as a best practice for secret access.
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.
- ✗
Use a custom service account with roles/secretmanager.admin and run Cloud Build as that account.
Why it's wrong here
This grants excessive admin permissions.
- ✗
Store the API keys as build substitutions.
Why it's wrong here
Substitutions are visible in logs and not secure.
- ✓
Grant the Cloud Build service account roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor on the project containing secrets.
Why this is correct
This provides least-privilege access to secrets.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Use Cloud KMS to encrypt secrets and pass them as environment variables.
Why it's wrong here
This is not a best practice; using Secret Manager is preferred.
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 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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related PCDOE questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps — This question tests Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Grant the Cloud Build service account roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor on the project containing secrets. — Option C is correct because granting the Cloud Build service account the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor role on the project containing secrets follows the principle of least privilege. Option A is wrong because using a custom service account with roles/secretmanager.admin grants excessive permissions. Option B is wrong because storing API keys as build substitutions is insecure and exposes them in logs. Option D is wrong because Cloud KMS is used for encryption, not as a best practice for secret access.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE 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 PCDOE questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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