> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/storage/appsec-gcp-121.md).

# BigQuery tables do not have deletion protection enabled misconfiguration detected in code

## Rule Details

|                        |                                      |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Cortex AppSec Rule ID  | APPSEC\_GCP\_121                     |
| Category - Subcategory | Public Exposure - Database Endpoints |
| Provider               | GCP                                  |
| Severity               | MEDIUM                               |
| Framework              | Terraform, Terraform Plan            |

## Impact

This rule (APPSEC\_GCP\_121) is looking to confirm that deletion protection is enabled for all BigQuery tables in a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) environment. The reason this is important is because tables without deletion protection can be deleted either accidentally or maliciously. In both cases, valuable data could be permanently lost. By ensuring deletion protection is enabled, the data within the tables is safeguarded from such accidental or malicious deletions, maintaining its integrity and availability.

## How to Fix

*Resource:* google\_bigquery\_table

* *Arguments:* deletion\_protection

To fix this issue, you need to enable deletion protection in your BigQuery tables. This can be done by setting the `deletion_protection` argument to `true` in the BigQuery table resource block in your Terraform code.

## The above code is secure because it ensures that BigQuery tables have deletion protection enabled. This means that these tables cannot be deleted without first disabling the deletion protection, greatly reducing the risk of tables being accidentally deleted. This is a crucial safeguard to prevent the accidental loss of data. \[source,go]

resource "google\_bigquery\_table" "example" { dataset\_id = google\_bigquery\_dataset.example.dataset\_id table\_id = "example\_table"

## deletion\_protection = true }


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/storage/appsec-gcp-121.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
