PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
A developer wants to allow a CI/CD pipeline running on GitHub Actions to deploy resources to a GCP project without using service account keys. Which two components are needed? (Choose two.)
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
✓
A Workload Identity Pool and Provider configured for GitHub.
Workload Identity Federation allows GitHub Actions to exchange GitHub OIDC tokens for GCP service account impersonation. You need to set up a workload identity pool and provider for GitHub. The GitHub Actions workflow must be configured to use the OIDC token and request impersonation of a service account.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A Workload Identity Pool and Provider configured for GitHub.
Why this is correct
This is the identity federation setup.
- ✓
A Google service account with the iam.workloadIdentityUser role.
Why this is correct
The service account must be allowed to be impersonated by the pool.
- ✗
A Cloud Build trigger to run the workflow.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary for GitHub Actions.
- ✗
A Cloud KMS key to encrypt the workflow.
Why it's wrong here
Not related to authentication.
- ✗
A service account JSON key stored as a GitHub secret.
Why it's wrong here
Keys should be avoided; this is the legacy approach.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCSE 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 PCSE exam.