- A
Create a project
A project is the container for all resources.
- B
Enable the Compute Engine API
Required to manage VPC networks and subnets.
- C
Enable billing
Billing must be enabled to use resources.
- D
Create a VPC network with custom subnets
Why wrong: This is done after initial setup.
- E
Create firewall rules
Why wrong: Firewall rules are part of network configuration, done after VPC creation.
Google ACE Practice Question: Which three steps are part of the initial setup…
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of ace exam topics. 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.
Which three steps are part of the initial setup for a new Google Cloud project with multiple subnets in a VPC?
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
Create a project
Creating a project is the first step in Google Cloud because it serves as the top-level container for all resources, billing, and permissions. Without a project, you cannot provision any services, including VPC networks or Compute Engine instances. This step is mandatory and foundational for organizing and isolating cloud resources.
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.
- ✓
Create a project
Why this is correct
A project is the container for all resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable the Compute Engine API
Why this is correct
Required to manage VPC networks and subnets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable billing
Why this is correct
Billing must be enabled to use resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a VPC network with custom subnets
Why it's wrong here
This is done after initial setup.
- ✗
Create firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules are part of network configuration, done after VPC creation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the order of operations in Google Cloud setup, and the trap here is that candidates confuse the initial prerequisites (project, billing, API) with later configuration steps like creating VPCs or firewall rules.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Google Cloud resource hierarchy enforces that a project must exist before any API calls can be made to create VPC networks or subnets. Billing must be enabled at the project level to associate costs with resource usage, and the Compute Engine API must be enabled to allow the creation of VPC networks (which are a Compute Engine resource). A common real-world scenario is a new user attempting to create a VPC without enabling billing, which results in a 'billing account not found' error.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Visual reference
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: Create a project — Creating a project is the first step in Google Cloud because it serves as the top-level container for all resources, billing, and permissions. Without a project, you cannot provision any services, including VPC networks or Compute Engine instances. This step is mandatory and foundational for organizing and isolating cloud resources.
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
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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