- A
The VM's service account does not have the required IAM permission on the bucket
Correct. If the service account does not have the Storage Object Admin role (or equivalent permissions) on the bucket, uploads will fail.
- C
The bucket's IAM policy does not include the service account
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the service account already has the Storage Object Admin role, the bucket's IAM policy is not the cause unless an explicit deny is set. Option A covers the permission issue more directly.
- D
The VM does not have the correct access scopes configured
Correct. Even if the service account has the correct IAM role, the VM's access scopes must allow Cloud Storage API access; otherwise, the API call is denied.
Question 794 of 1,000
Google ACE Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of planning and configuring a cloud solution. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 company has a Compute Engine VM instance that needs to access a Cloud Storage bucket. The VM uses a service account with the Storage Object Admin role. However, the VM is unable to upload objects. Which two possible causes should be investigated? (Choose two.)
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 VM's service account does not have the required IAM permission on the bucket
The service account must have the required IAM permission on the bucket (Storage Object Admin grants this at the project level, but bucket-level IAM can override). However, the question asks for two possible causes. The most common causes are that the service account lacks the necessary IAM permission on the bucket (A) or that the VM's access scopes are not configured to allow Cloud Storage API access (D). Option C is essentially the same as A from the bucket side and redundant; if the service account has the role at the project level, the bucket's IAM policy is not the issue unless an explicit deny exists. Option B is incorrect because firewall rules do not block API calls to Cloud Storage. Option E is incorrect because Cloud Storage is global and region mismatch does not affect access.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 VM's service account does not have the required IAM permission on the bucket
Why this is correct
Correct. If the service account does not have the Storage Object Admin role (or equivalent permissions) on the bucket, uploads will fail.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
The bucket's IAM policy does not include the service account
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the service account already has the Storage Object Admin role, the bucket's IAM policy is not the cause unless an explicit deny is set. Option A covers the permission issue more directly.
- ✓
The VM does not have the correct access scopes configured
Why this is correct
Correct. Even if the service account has the correct IAM role, the VM's access scopes must allow Cloud Storage API access; otherwise, the API call is denied.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related ACE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution — This question tests Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VM's service account does not have the required IAM permission on the bucket — The service account must have the required IAM permission on the bucket (Storage Object Admin grants this at the project level, but bucket-level IAM can override). However, the question asks for two possible causes. The most common causes are that the service account lacks the necessary IAM permission on the bucket (A) or that the VM's access scopes are not configured to allow Cloud Storage API access (D). Option C is essentially the same as A from the bucket side and redundant; if the service account has the role at the project level, the bucket's IAM policy is not the issue unless an explicit deny exists. Option B is incorrect because firewall rules do not block API calls to Cloud Storage. Option E is incorrect because Cloud Storage is global and region mismatch does not affect access.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related ACE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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