- A
The Build service account does not have the signer role.
Why wrong: The signer role is for signing images, not for enforcement.
- B
The image is stored in a different project than the one where Binary Authorization is configured.
Why wrong: BinAuthz policy can apply across projects if configured correctly; this is not the most likely cause.
- C
The Container Analysis API is not enabled in the project.
Why wrong: Container Analysis must be enabled for scanning, but its absence would not allow unsigned image deployment if BinAuthz is enforced.
- D
The Binary Authorization admission controller is not enabled on the GKE cluster.
Without the admission controller, the BinAuthz policy is not enforced.
Question 314 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.
An organization uses Binary Authorization with Container Analysis to enforce that only images that have passed vulnerability scanning and have been signed by an approved authority can be deployed to GKE. A DevOps engineer notices that an unsigned image is still being deployed. What is the most likely cause?
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 Binary Authorization admission controller is not enabled on the GKE cluster.
Option D is correct because Binary Authorization enforcement requires the admission controller to be enabled on the GKE cluster. Without the admission controller, the cluster will not intercept pod creation requests to verify image attestations, so unsigned images can be deployed regardless of the Binary Authorization policy configuration.
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.
- ✗
The Build service account does not have the signer role.
Why it's wrong here
The signer role is for signing images, not for enforcement.
- ✗
The image is stored in a different project than the one where Binary Authorization is configured.
Why it's wrong here
BinAuthz policy can apply across projects if configured correctly; this is not the most likely cause.
- ✗
The Container Analysis API is not enabled in the project.
Why it's wrong here
Container Analysis must be enabled for scanning, but its absence would not allow unsigned image deployment if BinAuthz is enforced.
- ✓
The Binary Authorization admission controller is not enabled on the GKE cluster.
Why this is correct
Without the admission controller, the BinAuthz policy is not enforced.
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 misconception that configuring a Binary Authorization policy alone is sufficient, when in fact the admission controller must be enabled on the GKE cluster for enforcement to take effect.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Binary Authorization uses a Kubernetes admission webhook that intercepts pod create and update events. The admission controller must be explicitly enabled on the GKE cluster via the `--enable-binauthz` flag or through the GKE console. Without it, the webhook is never invoked, and the policy is not enforced. Under the hood, the admission controller communicates with the Binary Authorization API to validate attestations stored in Container Analysis, and if the controller is missing, no validation occurs.
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.
- →
Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCDE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Database Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCDE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCDE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service.
Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps.
Applying Site Reliability Engineering Practices to a Service practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Applying Site Reliability Engineering Practices to a Service.
Implementing Service Monitoring Strategies practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Implementing Service Monitoring Strategies.
Optimising Service Performance practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Optimising Service Performance.
Plan and manage database infrastructure practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Plan and manage database infrastructure.
Define data structures and implement SQL for Business Intelligence practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Define data structures and implement SQL for Business Intelligence.
Design and implement database schemas practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Design and implement database schemas.
Monitor and optimize database performance practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Monitor and optimize database performance.
PCDE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE fundamentals.
PCDE scenario practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE scenario.
PCDE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCDE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 Binary Authorization admission controller is not enabled on the GKE cluster. — Option D is correct because Binary Authorization enforcement requires the admission controller to be enabled on the GKE cluster. Without the admission controller, the cluster will not intercept pod creation requests to verify image attestations, so unsigned images can be deployed regardless of the Binary Authorization policy configuration.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.