- A
GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit within its network
Google Cloud encrypts data in transit between physical boundaries and virtual machines using encryption at the Google network layer. GKE node-to-node traffic within GCP is covered by this encryption.
- B
GKE node traffic is unencrypted by default — mTLS must be manually configured on every Pod
Why wrong: GCP's network-level encryption protects VM-to-VM traffic including GKE nodes. mTLS adds an additional application-layer encryption layer but the underlying network traffic is already encrypted.
- C
Enable VPC Flow Logs — they activate encryption for logged traffic
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture metadata for analysis — they have no effect on traffic encryption.
- D
Install a TLS termination proxy on each GKE node — it encrypts intranode traffic
Why wrong: Node-level TLS proxies are not required — GCP's network layer already encrypts VM-to-VM traffic, and Anthos Service Mesh handles application-layer encryption.
Is GKE Node-to-Node Traffic Encrypted by Default?
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of ace exam topics. 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.
A team builds a GKE application that processes healthcare data. Regulatory requirements mandate that data in transit between GKE nodes must be encrypted. GKE is running on GCP. What provides encrypted node-to-node traffic within the cluster?
Quick Answer
The answer is that GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit within its network, including traffic between GKE nodes. This default encryption is achieved through a combination of MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) at the data link layer and IPsec at the network layer, applied transparently to all traffic within a VPC and between VPCs without any configuration required. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this concept tests your understanding of GCP’s shared responsibility model and its built-in security features—specifically that encryption in transit is enabled by default for node-to-node traffic, unlike many on-premises or other cloud environments where you must manually configure it. A common trap is assuming you need to enable a service mesh, TLS, or a custom network policy, but GCP’s infrastructure-layer encryption already satisfies the requirement. Memory tip: think of GCP’s network as a “secure tunnel” between every VM—no extra keys needed.
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
GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit within its network
GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit at the network layer, including traffic between GKE nodes, using a combination of MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) and IPsec. This encryption is enabled by default for all traffic within a VPC and between VPCs, without any configuration required. Therefore, node-to-node traffic within a GKE cluster is already encrypted, satisfying the regulatory requirement.
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.
- ✓
GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit within its network
Why this is correct
Google Cloud encrypts data in transit between physical boundaries and virtual machines using encryption at the Google network layer. GKE node-to-node traffic within GCP is covered by this encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
GKE node traffic is unencrypted by default — mTLS must be manually configured on every Pod
Why it's wrong here
GCP's network-level encryption protects VM-to-VM traffic including GKE nodes. mTLS adds an additional application-layer encryption layer but the underlying network traffic is already encrypted.
- ✗
Enable VPC Flow Logs — they activate encryption for logged traffic
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture metadata for analysis — they have no effect on traffic encryption.
- ✗
Install a TLS termination proxy on each GKE node — it encrypts intranode traffic
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Kubernetes traffic is unencrypted by default and that they must manually configure mTLS or a proxy, overlooking that GCP's underlying network infrastructure already provides encryption for all VM-to-VM traffic in transit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
GCP's encryption in transit uses a combination of MACsec at the physical layer for data-center links and IPsec for inter-VM traffic across the network fabric, ensuring confidentiality and integrity without any overhead on the VM or Pod. This encryption is transparent to the GKE cluster and applies to all protocols, including Kubernetes overlay traffic (e.g., Calico, Flannel), meaning even if a Pod uses unencrypted HTTP, the underlying node-to-node packets are encrypted. A real-world scenario where this matters is when auditors review network captures; they will see encrypted payloads between nodes, proving compliance without additional application-level configuration.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit within its network — GCP automatically encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic in transit at the network layer, including traffic between GKE nodes, using a combination of MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) and IPsec. This encryption is enabled by default for all traffic within a VPC and between VPCs, without any configuration required. Therefore, node-to-node traffic within a GKE cluster is already encrypted, satisfying the regulatory requirement.
What should I do if I get this ACE 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: Jun 11, 2026
This ACE 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 ACE exam.
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