- A
Cloud SQL requires public IP; change to public IP and allowlist the builder's IP.
Why wrong: Private pools do not have public IPs; they are inside the VPC.
- B
The Cloud Build service account lacks the Cloud SQL Client role; grant the role.
Why wrong: IAM permissions are for API access, not network connectivity.
- C
The private pool is in a different region; move the pool or Cloud SQL to the same region.
Why wrong: While region matters, peering is the primary issue; cross-region peering is possible.
- D
The private pool is not peered with the VPC containing Cloud SQL; set up VPC peering.
Private pools require VPC peering to access resources in the same VPC.
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. 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 team uses Cloud Build with a private pool to build a Docker image that requires access to a Cloud SQL instance. The build fails because the builder cannot connect to the database. The network configuration uses VPC Service Controls. What is the MOST likely cause and solution?
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
The private pool is not peered with the VPC containing Cloud SQL; set up VPC peering.
The most likely cause is that the private pool's underlying VPC is not peered with the VPC that hosts the Cloud SQL instance. Cloud Build private pools run in a Google-managed VPC, and to access resources in your own VPC (such as Cloud SQL), you must establish VPC peering between the two. Without this peering, the builder cannot route traffic to the Cloud SQL instance, even if VPC Service Controls are configured correctly.
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 requires public IP; change to public IP and allowlist the builder's IP.
Why it's wrong here
Private pools do not have public IPs; they are inside the VPC.
- ✗
The Cloud Build service account lacks the Cloud SQL Client role; grant the role.
Why it's wrong here
IAM permissions are for API access, not network connectivity.
- ✗
The private pool is in a different region; move the pool or Cloud SQL to the same region.
Why it's wrong here
While region matters, peering is the primary issue; cross-region peering is possible.
- ✓
The private pool is not peered with the VPC containing Cloud SQL; set up VPC peering.
Why this is correct
Private pools require VPC peering to access resources in the same VPC.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between IAM permissions (who can connect) and network connectivity (how to reach the resource), leading candidates to mistakenly choose a missing IAM role when the actual issue is a missing VPC peering or network route.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC peering for Cloud Build private pools uses the `servicenetworking.googleapis.com` API to create a private connection between the service producer's VPC (Google-managed) and the customer's VPC. The peering must be set up with custom route exchange enabled, and the Cloud SQL instance must be configured with a private IP address in a subnet that does not overlap with the private pool's subnet. In real-world scenarios, failing to enable `export custom routes` in the peering configuration is a common oversight that causes connectivity failures.
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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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: The private pool is not peered with the VPC containing Cloud SQL; set up VPC peering. — The most likely cause is that the private pool's underlying VPC is not peered with the VPC that hosts the Cloud SQL instance. Cloud Build private pools run in a Google-managed VPC, and to access resources in your own VPC (such as Cloud SQL), you must establish VPC peering between the two. Without this peering, the builder cannot route traffic to the Cloud SQL instance, even if VPC Service Controls are configured correctly.
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: "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.
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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