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Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCD Practice Question: Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud

This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in 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.

A developer wants to enable IAM database authentication for Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL. Which IAM role must be granted to a user or service account to allow login?

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

✓

Cloud SQL Instance User

Cloud SQL IAM database authentication for PostgreSQL requires the Cloud SQL Instance User role (roles/cloudsql.instanceUser) to be granted to a user or service account. This role allows the principal to log in to the database instance using IAM credentials, while the Cloud SQL Admin, Connect, and Client roles do not grant the specific login privilege needed for IAM-based database authentication.

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.

  • ✗

    Cloud SQL Admin

    Why it's wrong here

    Admin role provides full control over instances, but IAM database login specifically requires Instance User.

  • ✗

    Cloud SQL Connect

    Why it's wrong here

    There is no such predefined role.

  • ✓

    Cloud SQL Instance User

    Why this is correct

    This role allows a user to connect to Cloud SQL using IAM database authentication.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    Cloud SQL Client

    Why it's wrong here

    Cloud SQL Client grants access to instance management, not database login.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Cloud SQL Client or Cloud SQL Connect roles with the ability to log in to the database, but those roles only allow network-level connectivity (e.g., via Cloud SQL Proxy) and do not grant the IAM login permission required for database authentication.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

IAM database authentication for Cloud SQL PostgreSQL works by mapping an IAM principal to a database user with the same name (e.g., user@example.com or serviceAccount:sa@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com). The Cloud SQL Instance User role includes the cloudsql.instances.login permission, which is checked during the TLS handshake when the client presents a short-lived IAM-based password (generated via the gcloud sql generate-login-token command). This token is used instead of a traditional PostgreSQL password, and the instance validates it against IAM's public keys.

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 PCD question test?

Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — This question tests Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Cloud SQL Instance User — Cloud SQL IAM database authentication for PostgreSQL requires the Cloud SQL Instance User role (roles/cloudsql.instanceUser) to be granted to a user or service account. This role allows the principal to log in to the database instance using IAM credentials, while the Cloud SQL Admin, Connect, and Client roles do not grant the specific login privilege needed for IAM-based database authentication.

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: Jul 4, 2026

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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.