- A
Grant the Cloud SQL Client role to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account.
This directly grants the necessary permission via IAM.
- B
Create a service account key and store it in Secret Manager, then mount it as a volume.
Why wrong: Unnecessarily complex; using keys should be avoided if possible.
- C
Use the default Compute Engine service account and grant it the Cloud SQL Client role.
Why wrong: The default Compute Engine service account is not recommended; a dedicated service account should be used.
- D
Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API and use Application Default Credentials from the Cloud Run service.
Why wrong: Application Default Credentials work but require the service account to have the correct IAM role; explicitly granting the role is clearer.
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. 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 developer is deploying a Cloud Run service that needs to access a Cloud SQL instance. The service is deployed with the --no-allow-unauthenticated flag. What is the recommended way to grant the service access to the database?
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 SQL Client role to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account.
The recommended way to grant a Cloud Run service access to a Cloud SQL instance is to grant the Cloud SQL Client role (roles/cloudsql.client) to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account. This role provides the necessary permissions (cloudsql.instances.connect and cloudsql.instances.get) to establish a secure connection via the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy or the Cloud SQL connector library. Using the runtime service account follows the principle of least privilege and avoids managing long-lived credentials.
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 the Cloud SQL Client role to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account.
Why this is correct
This directly grants the necessary permission via IAM.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a service account key and store it in Secret Manager, then mount it as a volume.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessarily complex; using keys should be avoided if possible.
- ✗
Use the default Compute Engine service account and grant it the Cloud SQL Client role.
Why it's wrong here
The default Compute Engine service account is not recommended; a dedicated service account should be used.
- ✗
Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API and use Application Default Credentials from the Cloud Run service.
Why it's wrong here
Application Default Credentials work but require the service account to have the correct IAM role; explicitly granting the role is clearer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that you need to use a service account key or the default Compute Engine service account, when in fact Cloud Run's runtime service account is the correct identity to grant the Cloud SQL Client role to, avoiding the need for managing keys or using a shared default account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud Run uses the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy or the Cloud SQL connector (e.g., for Java, Python, Go) to create a secure TLS tunnel to the Cloud SQL instance. The runtime service account must have the cloudsql.instances.connect permission (provided by the Cloud SQL Client role) to authenticate the proxy connection. In a real-world scenario, if the service is deployed with --no-allow-unauthenticated, the runtime service account is the identity used for all outbound calls, including database connections, so granting the role directly to that account is the cleanest approach.
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.
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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: Grant the Cloud SQL Client role to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account. — The recommended way to grant a Cloud Run service access to a Cloud SQL instance is to grant the Cloud SQL Client role (roles/cloudsql.client) to the Cloud Run service's runtime service account. This role provides the necessary permissions (cloudsql.instances.connect and cloudsql.instances.get) to establish a secure connection via the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy or the Cloud SQL connector library. Using the runtime service account follows the principle of least privilege and avoids managing long-lived credentials.
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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