- A
roles/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Compute Engine default service account.
Why wrong: The Compute Engine default service account is not the runtime service account for Cloud Run unless explicitly set.
- B
roles/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Cloud Build service account.
The Cloud Build service account needs to impersonate the runtime service account (default Compute Engine service account) to deploy Cloud Run services.
- C
roles/storage.objectViewer on the container registry.
Why wrong: This permission is for reading images, but the build step succeeded, so this is not missing.
- D
roles/run.admin on the Cloud Run service.
Why wrong: While this role is needed, the error is about the service account lacking permission, not the Cloud Build service account itself.
Quick Answer
The answer is the roles/iam.serviceAccountUser permission on the Cloud Build service account. This is required because when Cloud Build deploys to Cloud Run, it must impersonate the runtime service account (typically the default Compute Engine service account) to create or update the Cloud Run service. Without the iam.serviceAccountUser role, Cloud Build lacks the authority to “act as” that runtime identity, causing the deployment step to fail even though the build itself succeeds. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of service account chaining and least privilege—a common trap is assuming the Cloud Build service account only needs Cloud Run admin roles, when in fact it needs the IAM delegation role on the target service account. Remember the mnemonic: “Build can build, but to deploy, it needs to ‘be’ the runtime account.”
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 uses this Cloud Build configuration to deploy to Cloud Run. The build succeeds but the deployment fails with an error that the service account lacks permission. What is the most likely missing permission?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Cloud Build service account.
Cloud Build uses its own service account (the Cloud Build service account) to execute deployments. To deploy to Cloud Run, that service account needs the 'roles/iam.serviceAccountUser' role on the runtime service account (default Compute Engine service account) to act as that service account.
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/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Compute Engine default service account.
Why it's wrong here
The Compute Engine default service account is not the runtime service account for Cloud Run unless explicitly set.
- ✓
roles/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Cloud Build service account.
Why this is correct
The Cloud Build service account needs to impersonate the runtime service account (default Compute Engine service account) to deploy Cloud Run services.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
roles/storage.objectViewer on the container registry.
Why it's wrong here
This permission is for reading images, but the build step succeeded, so this is not missing.
- ✗
roles/run.admin on the Cloud Run service.
Why it's wrong here
While this role is needed, the error is about the service account lacking permission, not the Cloud Build service account itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Deploying applications — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Deploying applications practice questions
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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: roles/iam.serviceAccountUser on the Cloud Build service account. — Cloud Build uses its own service account (the Cloud Build service account) to execute deployments. To deploy to Cloud Run, that service account needs the 'roles/iam.serviceAccountUser' role on the runtime service account (default Compute Engine service account) to act as that service account.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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