- A
Use Cloud Deploy to create a delivery pipeline that watches the Artifact Registry and promotes the image to GKE.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Cloud Deploy does not automatically trigger on image push; it requires manual or scheduled releases.
- B
Set up a Cloud Build trigger that monitors the Artifact Registry and runs a build step to update the GKE deployment using kubectl.
Correct: Cloud Build can be triggered by an Artifact Registry push and execute kubectl commands to update the deployment.
- C
Schedule a Cloud Scheduler job that periodically checks for new images in Artifact Registry and updates the GKE deployment.
Why wrong: Incorrect: This is a polling approach, not event-driven, and inefficient compared to a trigger.
- D
Configure a Cloud Run service that is automatically deployed when a new image is pushed to Artifact Registry.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Cloud Run is for serverless containers, not for managing GKE deployments.
Quick Answer
The correct combination is Cloud Build with a trigger that monitors Artifact Registry and runs a kubectl update step. This works because Cloud Build triggers can be configured to fire on new image pushes to Artifact Registry, executing a build step that applies the updated image to the GKE deployment using kubectl set image or a similar command, enabling a fully automated continuous deployment pipeline. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of event-driven CI/CD with native GCP services, often appearing as a scenario where you must choose between Cloud Build, Cloud Functions, or Pub/Sub—the key trap is selecting Cloud Functions alone, which lacks native kubectl integration. A common memory tip is to think of Cloud Build as the “glue” that listens for registry events and runs deployment commands, while Artifact Registry acts as the event source. Remember: “Push triggers build, build updates GKE.”
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company is deploying a containerized application on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). The development team has built a Docker image and pushed it to Artifact Registry. They want to automate the deployment process so that whenever a new image is pushed to the registry, the application is automatically updated in the GKE cluster. Which combination of services should they use to achieve this?
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
Set up a Cloud Build trigger that monitors the Artifact Registry and runs a build step to update the GKE deployment using kubectl.
Option B is correct because Cloud Build can be configured with a trigger that monitors Artifact Registry for new image pushes. When a new image is pushed, the trigger executes a build step that uses kubectl to update the GKE deployment, enabling continuous deployment without manual intervention.
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.
- ✗
Use Cloud Deploy to create a delivery pipeline that watches the Artifact Registry and promotes the image to GKE.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Cloud Deploy does not automatically trigger on image push; it requires manual or scheduled releases.
- ✓
Set up a Cloud Build trigger that monitors the Artifact Registry and runs a build step to update the GKE deployment using kubectl.
Why this is correct
Correct: Cloud Build can be triggered by an Artifact Registry push and execute kubectl commands to update the deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Schedule a Cloud Scheduler job that periodically checks for new images in Artifact Registry and updates the GKE deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This is a polling approach, not event-driven, and inefficient compared to a trigger.
- ✗
Configure a Cloud Run service that is automatically deployed when a new image is pushed to Artifact Registry.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Cloud Run is for serverless containers, not for managing GKE deployments.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing Cloud Deploy's pipeline capabilities with event-driven triggers, leading candidates to choose Option A, but Cloud Deploy requires an explicit trigger (like a Cloud Build invocation) and does not directly watch Artifact Registry for image pushes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Build triggers use Pub/Sub notifications from Artifact Registry to detect new image pushes. The trigger can run a custom build step that authenticates to the GKE cluster via the Kubernetes Engine API and executes `kubectl set image` to update the deployment's container image. This approach ensures near-instantaneous updates and avoids the overhead of polling.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Set up a Cloud Build trigger that monitors the Artifact Registry and runs a build step to update the GKE deployment using kubectl. — Option B is correct because Cloud Build can be configured with a trigger that monitors Artifact Registry for new image pushes. When a new image is pushed, the trigger executes a build step that uses kubectl to update the GKE deployment, enabling continuous deployment without manual intervention.
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: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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