The answer is that the push endpoint is returning 500 errors because it requires authentication but none is configured. In Google Cloud Pub/Sub, when a push subscription delivers messages to an HTTPS endpoint, that endpoint must present a valid SSL certificate and, if it demands authentication, the subscription must include an authorization header—typically a service account token or an OAuth 2.0 bearer token. Without this header, the endpoint rejects the request with a 500-level server error, as it cannot verify the sender. On the Google Professional Data Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of push endpoint security and the subscription configuration fields like `oidcToken` or `authenticationHeader`. A common trap is assuming the 500 error stems from the endpoint’s code or network issues, when the root cause is a missing authentication credential in the subscription itself. Remember the mnemonic: “No auth, 500 wrath”—if your push endpoint demands a token, ensure the subscription provides it.
PDE Designing data processing systems Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Created subscription 'my-sub' on topic 'my-topic' (project:my-project)
Push endpoint: https://myapp.example.com/events
Ack deadline: 10 seconds
Retry policy: Retry after 10 seconds, maximum 10 retries
No authentication configured.
The push endpoint is returning 500 errors. 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.
Refer to the exhibit.
Created subscription 'my-sub' on topic 'my-topic' (project:my-project)
Push endpoint: https://myapp.example.com/events
Ack deadline: 10 seconds
Retry policy: Retry after 10 seconds, maximum 10 retries
No authentication configured.
A
The push endpoint requires authentication but none is set
If the endpoint expects an Authorization header, requests without it will fail with 500 or 401.
B
The topic has no messages
Why wrong: If the topic had no messages, the push endpoint would not receive any requests, so no 500 errors.
C
The push endpoint is not a valid HTTPS URL
Why wrong: The URL appears to start with https, so it is valid.
D
The ack deadline is too short
Why wrong: A short ack deadline causes redelivery, not 500 errors from the push endpoint.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The push endpoint requires authentication but none is set
The push endpoint likely requires authentication, but none is configured, causing the 500 errors.
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 push endpoint requires authentication but none is set
Why this is correct
If the endpoint expects an Authorization header, requests without it will fail with 500 or 401.
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.
✗
The topic has no messages
Why it's wrong here
If the topic had no messages, the push endpoint would not receive any requests, so no 500 errors.
✗
The push endpoint is not a valid HTTPS URL
Why it's wrong here
The URL appears to start with https, so it is valid.
✗
The ack deadline is too short
Why it's wrong here
A short ack deadline causes redelivery, not 500 errors from the push endpoint.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 PDE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Designing data processing systems — This question tests Designing data processing systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The push endpoint requires authentication but none is set — The push endpoint likely requires authentication, but none is configured, causing the 500 errors.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Identify which PDE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
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Question Discussion
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