- A
Enable the 'drift correction' option in Config Sync
Why wrong: Drift correction is enabled by default when Config Sync is configured to sync from a Git repository.
- B
Set up a Cloud Scheduler to run 'kubectl apply' periodically
Why wrong: This would duplicate Config Sync's functionality and is not required.
- C
Install Anthos Config Management with the 'policy controller' enabled
Why wrong: Policy Controller enforces policies but does not handle drift correction beyond what Config Sync provides.
- D
No additional configuration is required; drift correction is automatic
Config Sync automatically reconciles the cluster state with the Git repository, correcting any drift.
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 team uses GitOps with Config Sync to manage multiple GKE clusters. They want to ensure that if a cluster's state drifts from the desired state in the Git repository, it is automatically corrected. Config Sync is installed with the default settings. What else must be configured?
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
No additional configuration is required; drift correction is automatic
Config Sync, by default, operates in a continuous reconciliation loop. It periodically compares the live state of the cluster against the desired state defined in the Git repository. If any drift is detected, Config Sync automatically applies the necessary changes to revert the cluster back to the desired state. Therefore, no additional configuration is needed for automatic drift correction.
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.
- ✗
Enable the 'drift correction' option in Config Sync
Why it's wrong here
Drift correction is enabled by default when Config Sync is configured to sync from a Git repository.
- ✗
Set up a Cloud Scheduler to run 'kubectl apply' periodically
Why it's wrong here
This would duplicate Config Sync's functionality and is not required.
- ✗
Install Anthos Config Management with the 'policy controller' enabled
Why it's wrong here
Policy Controller enforces policies but does not handle drift correction beyond what Config Sync provides.
- ✓
No additional configuration is required; drift correction is automatic
Why this is correct
Config Sync automatically reconciles the cluster state with the Git repository, correcting any drift.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a separate 'drift correction' feature must be enabled, not realizing that Config Sync's core design already includes automatic drift correction as a fundamental behavior of its continuous reconciliation loop.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Config Sync uses a controller-manager that runs a reconciliation loop with a configurable sync period (default is every 15 seconds). It leverages the `source-format` of `unstructured` or `hierarchy` to parse the repository and applies resources using server-side apply. Under the hood, it uses the `kpt` or `nomos` libraries to compute diffs and apply changes idempotently, ensuring that any manual edits to the cluster are overwritten on the next sync cycle.
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
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: No additional configuration is required; drift correction is automatic — Config Sync, by default, operates in a continuous reconciliation loop. It periodically compares the live state of the cluster against the desired state defined in the Git repository. If any drift is detected, Config Sync automatically applies the necessary changes to revert the cluster back to the desired state. Therefore, no additional configuration is needed for automatic drift correction.
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.
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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