- A
Grant `roles/secretmanager.admin` on the project.
Why wrong: secretmanager.admin grants full management access to all secrets — far more than read access to a single secret. This violates least privilege.
- B
Grant `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` on the specific secret resource.
secretAccessor on the specific secret resource grants exactly the `secretmanager.versions.access` permission needed to read the secret value, scoped to that one secret only.
- C
Grant `roles/viewer` on the project.
Why wrong: Project Viewer does not include `secretmanager.versions.access` — it grants read access to most resource metadata but not secret content.
- D
Grant `roles/secretmanager.secretVersionManager` on the secret.
Why wrong: secretVersionManager manages secret versions (add, disable, destroy) but does not grant access to read the secret value (access is a separate permission).
Quick Answer
The answer is to grant the `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` role on the specific secret resource. This is correct because the principle of least privilege requires that a Cloud Run service account only have the precise permission needed—`secretmanager.versions.access`—to read a secret value, and applying this role at the secret level (rather than the project level) scopes access exclusively to that one secret, preventing unintended exposure of other secrets. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of resource-level IAM binding versus project-level roles, a common trap where candidates mistakenly assign broader roles like `roles/secretmanager.viewer` or grant access at the project level. Remember the memory tip: "Secret Accessor on the secret, not the project" — think of it as locking a single file in a safe, not giving keys to the whole vault.
Google ACE Configuring access and security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. 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 Cloud Run service needs to read secrets from Secret Manager. The service is deployed with a custom runtime service account. Which IAM role should be granted to the runtime service account, and on which resource?
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 `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` on the specific secret resource.
The principle of least privilege dictates that the runtime service account should only have the minimum permissions required to access the specific secret. The `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` role provides exactly the `secretmanager.versions.access` permission needed to read the secret value, and granting it on the specific secret resource (rather than the project) scopes the permission to that secret only, preventing broader access.
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.
- ✗
Grant `roles/secretmanager.admin` on the project.
Why it's wrong here
secretmanager.admin grants full management access to all secrets — far more than read access to a single secret. This violates least privilege.
- ✓
Grant `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` on the specific secret resource.
Why this is correct
secretAccessor on the specific secret resource grants exactly the `secretmanager.versions.access` permission needed to read the secret value, scoped to that one secret only.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Grant `roles/viewer` on the project.
Why it's wrong here
Project Viewer does not include `secretmanager.versions.access` — it grants read access to most resource metadata but not secret content.
- ✗
Grant `roles/secretmanager.secretVersionManager` on the secret.
Why it's wrong here
secretVersionManager manages secret versions (add, disable, destroy) but does not grant access to read the secret value (access is a separate permission).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the principle of least privilege by offering broad project-level roles (like `roles/secretmanager.admin`) as distractors, tempting candidates to grant excessive permissions instead of scoping the role to the specific secret resource.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Secret Manager uses IAM conditions and resource-level policies to enforce access control. When you grant `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` on a specific secret, the runtime service account's access token is evaluated against the secret's IAM policy, and the `secretmanager.versions.access` permission is checked against the secret's metadata. In a real-world scenario, if the secret is rotated and a new version is created, the service account will automatically have access to the new version because the role is granted on the secret resource itself, not on a specific version.
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 ACE question test?
Configuring access and security — This question tests Configuring access and security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Grant `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` on the specific secret resource. — The principle of least privilege dictates that the runtime service account should only have the minimum permissions required to access the specific secret. The `roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor` role provides exactly the `secretmanager.versions.access` permission needed to read the secret value, and granting it on the specific secret resource (rather than the project) scopes the permission to that secret only, preventing broader access.
What should I do if I get this ACE 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: Jun 30, 2026
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