- A
Download a service account key file and store it on the instance.
Why wrong: Downloading a service account key file and storing it on the instance is not best practice because it introduces key management overhead and security risks. Instead, use the attached service account with IAM roles.
- B
Grant the necessary IAM roles to the service account attached to the instance.
This is correct because granting the necessary IAM roles (e.g., Storage Object Viewer) to the service account attached to the instance allows it to access the bucket securely without managing keys.
- C
Create a new service account and use its key on the instance.
Why wrong: Creating a new service account and using its key still requires key management, which is not best practice. The instance already has a service account that can be used.
- D
Use the default compute engine service account and grant it Storage Admin.
Why wrong: While using the default compute engine service account with Storage Admin works, it grants more permissions than necessary (Storage Admin is broader). Best practice is to grant least privilege (e.g., Storage Object Viewer). Also, using a custom service account with specific roles is preferred over the default service account for better control.
Google ACE Configuring Access and Security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
You need to allow a Compute Engine instance to securely access a Cloud Storage bucket without managing service account keys. The instance already has a service account attached. What is the best practice to grant access?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Grant the necessary IAM roles to the service account attached to the instance.
The best practice is to grant the appropriate IAM role (e.g., Storage Object Viewer) to the service account attached to the instance. This avoids the need to download and manage service account keys.
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.
- ✗
Download a service account key file and store it on the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Downloading a service account key file and storing it on the instance is not best practice because it introduces key management overhead and security risks. Instead, use the attached service account with IAM roles.
- ✓
Grant the necessary IAM roles to the service account attached to the instance.
Why this is correct
This is correct because granting the necessary IAM roles (e.g., Storage Object Viewer) to the service account attached to the instance allows it to access the bucket securely without managing keys.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a new service account and use its key on the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a new service account and using its key still requires key management, which is not best practice. The instance already has a service account that can be used.
- ✗
Use the default compute engine service account and grant it Storage Admin.
Why it's wrong here
While using the default compute engine service account with Storage Admin works, it grants more permissions than necessary (Storage Admin is broader). Best practice is to grant least privilege (e.g., Storage Object Viewer). Also, using a custom service account with specific roles is preferred over the default service account for better control.
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 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.
Identify which ACE 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.
- →
Configuring Access and Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Configuring Access and Security practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Configuring Access and Security — This question tests Configuring Access and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Grant the necessary IAM roles to the service account attached to the instance. — The best practice is to grant the appropriate IAM role (e.g., Storage Object Viewer) to the service account attached to the instance. This avoids the need to download and manage service account keys.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which ACE 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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: Jul 4, 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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