- A
Use a Cloud Build trigger with a manual approval step.
Why wrong: Cloud Build does not have built-in approval gates for deployments; Cloud Deploy does.
- B
Add a preDeploy hook to the production target that runs a Cloud Run Job to send a notification.
Why wrong: PreDeploy hooks run actions but do not block deployment for approval.
- C
Add a postDeploy hook that checks for approval.
Why wrong: PostDeploy hooks run after deployment, so this would not prevent deployment.
- D
Configure the production target with requireApproval: true.
This adds a manual approval gate. The deployment will pause until approved via Cloud Deploy console or CLI.
Question 762 of 1,000
PCDE Practice Question: Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of building and implementing ci/cd pipelines for a service. 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 DevOps engineer is using Cloud Deploy to promote a release from staging to production. They want to require a manual approval before the release is deployed to production. What should they configure in the delivery pipeline?
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
✓
Configure the production target with requireApproval: true.
Option D is correct because Cloud Deploy natively supports manual approval gates at the target level. Setting `requireApproval: true` on the production target in the delivery pipeline configuration ensures that a release must receive explicit approval via the Cloud Deploy console or API before it can proceed to that target. This is the intended mechanism for adding a manual approval step without external services or hooks.
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 a Cloud Build trigger with a manual approval step.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Build does not have built-in approval gates for deployments; Cloud Deploy does.
- ✗
Add a preDeploy hook to the production target that runs a Cloud Run Job to send a notification.
Why it's wrong here
PreDeploy hooks run actions but do not block deployment for approval.
- ✗
Add a postDeploy hook that checks for approval.
Why it's wrong here
PostDeploy hooks run after deployment, so this would not prevent deployment.
- ✓
Configure the production target with requireApproval: true.
Why this is correct
This adds a manual approval gate. The deployment will pause until approved via Cloud Deploy console or CLI.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between hooks (which execute code but do not pause for human input) and the native `requireApproval` setting, leading candidates to mistakenly think a preDeploy hook can implement a manual approval gate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud Deploy models delivery pipelines as a series of targets, each with optional approval gates. When `requireApproval: true` is set, the release enters a 'Pending Approval' state for that target, and the Cloud Deploy service waits for an explicit `approve` API call (or console action) before proceeding to the `deploy` operation. This is distinct from Cloud Build approvals, which operate at the build level, and from hooks, which execute arbitrary code but cannot gate the deployment lifecycle.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — This question tests Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the production target with requireApproval: true. — Option D is correct because Cloud Deploy natively supports manual approval gates at the target level. Setting `requireApproval: true` on the production target in the delivery pipeline configuration ensures that a release must receive explicit approval via the Cloud Deploy console or API before it can proceed to that target. This is the intended mechanism for adding a manual approval step without external services or hooks.
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.
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
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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