- A
`roles/bigquery.admin`
Why wrong: BigQuery Admin grants full control including dataset creation, deletion, and IAM management — far more than the data engineer needs and a violation of least privilege.
- B
`roles/bigquery.dataViewer` (with `roles/bigquery.jobUser` if needed to run queries)
dataViewer grants read-only access to datasets. jobUser allows creating and running query jobs. Together they provide read + query capability without write, delete, or admin access.
- C
`roles/viewer` (project-level Viewer)
Why wrong: Project-level Viewer grants read access to all resources in the project — broader than just BigQuery access. Least privilege means scoping to only the needed service.
- D
`roles/bigquery.dataEditor`
Why wrong: dataEditor grants read AND write access to data within datasets (insert, update, delete table data). This exceeds the requirement — the engineer should only have read access.
IAM Roles for BigQuery
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of trust and security with google cloud. 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 uses Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM). A new employee is a data engineer who needs to read BigQuery datasets and run queries but should NOT be able to create new datasets, delete tables, or modify IAM policies. Which IAM role should be assigned?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"NOT"Why it matters: Negative qualifier — you are looking for the one option that does NOT apply. Most options will be true; only one is false for this scenario.
Quick Answer
The answer is to assign the `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` and `roles/bigquery.jobUser` roles together. This combination satisfies the least privilege requirement because `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` grants read-only access to BigQuery datasets and their contents, while `roles/bigquery.jobUser` permits running query jobs without allowing dataset creation, table deletion, or IAM policy modifications. On the Google Cloud Digital Leader exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how IAM roles for BigQuery separate data access from job execution—a common trap is assuming a single role like `roles/bigquery.user` covers both, but that role also allows creating datasets. Remember, the Digital Leader exam emphasizes knowing which roles combine to meet specific job functions without over-permissioning. A helpful memory tip: think "Viewer for reading, JobUser for running"—together they let you see and query, but not create or delete.
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
`roles/bigquery.dataViewer` (with `roles/bigquery.jobUser` if needed to run queries)
Option B is correct because the `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` role grants read access to BigQuery datasets and their contents, while `roles/bigquery.jobUser` allows the user to run query jobs. Together, they satisfy the requirement to read datasets and run queries without permitting dataset creation, table deletion, or IAM policy modification.
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.
- ✗
`roles/bigquery.admin`
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery Admin grants full control including dataset creation, deletion, and IAM management — far more than the data engineer needs and a violation of least privilege.
- ✓
`roles/bigquery.dataViewer` (with `roles/bigquery.jobUser` if needed to run queries)
Why this is correct
dataViewer grants read-only access to datasets. jobUser allows creating and running query jobs. Together they provide read + query capability without write, delete, or admin access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "NOT" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
`roles/viewer` (project-level Viewer)
Why it's wrong here
Project-level Viewer grants read access to all resources in the project — broader than just BigQuery access. Least privilege means scoping to only the needed service.
- ✗
`roles/bigquery.dataEditor`
Why it's wrong here
dataEditor grants read AND write access to data within datasets (insert, update, delete table data). This exceeds the requirement — the engineer should only have read access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the project-level `roles/viewer` (Option C) is sufficient for running queries, but it lacks the `bigquery.jobs.create` permission, causing query execution to fail even though the user can see the data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, BigQuery IAM roles are composed of granular permissions. The `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` role includes permissions like `bigquery.datasets.get` and `bigquery.tables.get`, but crucially lacks `bigquery.datasets.create` and `bigquery.tables.delete`. The `roles/bigquery.jobUser` role adds `bigquery.jobs.create`, which is required to submit query jobs. In a real-world scenario, a data engineer might need to run ad-hoc analytical queries against production datasets without risking accidental deletion or schema changes, making this combination ideal for least-privilege access.
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.
- →
Trust and security with Google Cloud — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Trust and security with Google Cloud — This question tests Trust and security with Google Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` (with `roles/bigquery.jobUser` if needed to run queries) — Option B is correct because the `roles/bigquery.dataViewer` role grants read access to BigQuery datasets and their contents, while `roles/bigquery.jobUser` allows the user to run query jobs. Together, they satisfy the requirement to read datasets and run queries without permitting dataset creation, table deletion, or IAM policy modification.
What should I do if I get this GCDL 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: "NOT". Negative qualifier — you are looking for the one option that does NOT apply. Most options will be true; only one is false for this scenario.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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