- A
Deployment Manager
Why wrong: Deployment Manager uses templates, not GitOps with GKE.
- B
Cloud Build
Why wrong: Cloud Build is CI/CD, not GitOps sync.
- C
Cloud Deploy
Why wrong: Cloud Deploy is for deployment pipelines, not infrastructure management.
- D
Config Sync
Syncs K8s manifests from Git to GKE.
- E
Config Connector
Manages GCP resources via K8s YAML, which can be synced by Config Sync.
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. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An organization is moving to a GitOps model for managing both application deployments and GCP infrastructure. They want to use a single tool to sync Kubernetes manifests and manage GCP resources like Cloud SQL and Pub/Sub. Which two Google Cloud services should they combine?
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
Config Sync
Config Sync (D) is correct because it continuously reconciles the state of Kubernetes resources in a cluster with manifests stored in a Git repository, enabling a GitOps workflow for application deployments. Config Connector (E) is correct because it allows managing GCP resources (e.g., Cloud SQL, Pub/Sub) declaratively using Kubernetes custom resource definitions (CRDs), which can also be synced via Config Sync. Together, they provide a single Git-based toolchain for both Kubernetes and GCP infrastructure.
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.
- ✗
Deployment Manager
Why it's wrong here
Deployment Manager uses templates, not GitOps with GKE.
- ✗
Cloud Build
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Build is CI/CD, not GitOps sync.
- ✗
Cloud Deploy
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Deploy is for deployment pipelines, not infrastructure management.
- ✓
Config Sync
Why this is correct
Syncs K8s manifests from Git to GKE.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Config Connector
Why this is correct
Manages GCP resources via K8s YAML, which can be synced by Config Sync.
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 misconception that Cloud Build or Cloud Deploy can serve as a GitOps sync tool, but they are pipeline orchestrators, not continuous reconciliation engines; candidates confuse CI/CD pipelines with the GitOps pull-based sync model.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Config Sync uses the open-source Anthos Config Management (ACM) controller to poll a Git repository (or OCI source) and apply the desired state to the cluster via server-side apply, supporting features like namespace-scoped repos and admission webhooks. Config Connector maps GCP services to Kubernetes CRDs (e.g., `SQLInstance`, `PubSubTopic`) and uses the Config Connector controller to call GCP APIs, enabling full lifecycle management including deletion protection. In a real-world scenario, a team can store both a `Deployment` manifest and a `PubSubTopic` CRD in the same Git repo, and Config Sync will ensure both are applied consistently across clusters.
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.
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: Config Sync — Config Sync (D) is correct because it continuously reconciles the state of Kubernetes resources in a cluster with manifests stored in a Git repository, enabling a GitOps workflow for application deployments. Config Connector (E) is correct because it allows managing GCP resources (e.g., Cloud SQL, Pub/Sub) declaratively using Kubernetes custom resource definitions (CRDs), which can also be synced via Config Sync. Together, they provide a single Git-based toolchain for both Kubernetes and GCP infrastructure.
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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