- A
Grant predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`.
Granting predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin` provides the necessary permissions to manage Compute Engine instances and Cloud Storage objects without granting delete permissions on resources like instances and buckets, as these roles do not include delete actions on the resources themselves. This aligns with Google's recommendation to use predefined roles when they already meet the requirements, as they are maintained and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.
- B
Create custom roles with only the necessary permissions, excluding delete.
Creating custom roles with only the necessary permissions explicitly excludes delete permissions, offering more granular control and strictly adhering to least-privilege principles. While this is a valid approach, Google notes that predefined roles are preferred when sufficient, since they are simpler and less error-prone.
- C
Use Cloud KMS to manage access.
Why wrong: Cloud KMS (Key Management Service) is used for managing encryption keys and does not provide IAM permissions to manage Compute Engine instances or Cloud Storage buckets. It is unrelated to access control for these resources, making this option incorrect.
- D
Grant the primitive roles `roles/editor` and `roles/viewer`.
Why wrong: Granting primitive roles `roles/editor` and `roles/viewer` is not recommended for least-privilege. `roles/editor` includes delete permissions on many resources, violating the requirement to prevent deletion, while `roles/viewer` is read-only and insufficient for management tasks. Primitive roles are too broad and outdated for fine-grained access control.
PCDE Practice Question: Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of bootstrapping a google cloud organisation for devops. 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 wants to implement least-privilege IAM for their DevOps team. The team needs to manage Compute Engine instances and Cloud Storage buckets, but not delete resources. Which approach is recommended?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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 predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`.
Both Option A and Option B are correct approaches for implementing least-privilege IAM. Option A uses predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`, which provide the necessary permissions to manage Compute Engine instances and Cloud Storage objects without granting delete permissions on the resources themselves (instances and buckets). Option B allows creating custom roles that explicitly exclude delete permissions, offering more granular control. Google recommends using predefined roles when they already meet the requirements, as they are maintained and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.
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 predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`.
Why this is correct
Granting predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin` provides the necessary permissions to manage Compute Engine instances and Cloud Storage objects without granting delete permissions on resources like instances and buckets, as these roles do not include delete actions on the resources themselves. This aligns with Google's recommendation to use predefined roles when they already meet the requirements, as they are maintained and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create custom roles with only the necessary permissions, excluding delete.
Why this is correct
Creating custom roles with only the necessary permissions explicitly excludes delete permissions, offering more granular control and strictly adhering to least-privilege principles. While this is a valid approach, Google notes that predefined roles are preferred when sufficient, since they are simpler and less error-prone.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud KMS to manage access.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud KMS (Key Management Service) is used for managing encryption keys and does not provide IAM permissions to manage Compute Engine instances or Cloud Storage buckets. It is unrelated to access control for these resources, making this option incorrect.
- ✗
Grant the primitive roles `roles/editor` and `roles/viewer`.
Why it's wrong here
Granting primitive roles `roles/editor` and `roles/viewer` is not recommended for least-privilege. `roles/editor` includes delete permissions on many resources, violating the requirement to prevent deletion, while `roles/viewer` is read-only and insufficient for management tasks. Primitive roles are too broad and outdated for fine-grained access control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think custom roles (Option B) are always the best for least-privilege, but the exam emphasizes that predefined roles are recommended when they already meet the requirements, as they are maintained by Google and reduce the risk of permission errors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, predefined roles in Google Cloud are composed of granular permissions that map to specific API methods. For example, `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` includes `compute.instances.stop` and `compute.instances.start` but excludes `compute.instances.delete`. Similarly, `roles/storage.objectAdmin` includes `storage.objects.get` and `storage.objects.update` but not `storage.objects.delete` or `storage.buckets.delete`. This granularity ensures that DevOps teams can perform lifecycle management without the ability to remove resources, which is critical in production environments to prevent accidental data loss.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — This question tests Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Grant predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`. — Both Option A and Option B are correct approaches for implementing least-privilege IAM. Option A uses predefined roles `roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1` and `roles/storage.objectAdmin`, which provide the necessary permissions to manage Compute Engine instances and Cloud Storage objects without granting delete permissions on the resources themselves (instances and buckets). Option B allows creating custom roles that explicitly exclude delete permissions, offering more granular control. Google recommends using predefined roles when they already meet the requirements, as they are maintained and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.
What should I do if I get this PCDE 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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCDE 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 PCDE exam.
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