- A
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with target tags 'web-server' and source range 0.0.0.0/0, and a deny rule for all other traffic.
Why wrong: The deny rule is unnecessary because implicit deny already exists.
- B
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and apply to all instances.
Why wrong: This would allow HTTP to all instances, not just those with the 'web-server' tag.
- C
Create a deny rule for all ports except tcp:80 with target tags 'web-server'.
Why wrong: This would deny all ports except 80, but the default deny already blocks other traffic. Also, deny rules are evaluated before allow rules, so this could cause issues.
- D
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tags 'web-server'. No deny rule is needed.
Correct. Default deny all inbound traffic applies; only allow HTTP to tagged instances.
Google ACE Configuring Access and Security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. 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.
You need to allow inbound HTTP traffic to a set of Compute Engine instances that have the tag 'web-server'. All other inbound traffic should be denied. Which firewall rule configuration should you create?
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 an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tags 'web-server'. No deny rule is needed.
Firewall rules are stateful; you should create an allow rule for HTTP (tcp:80) with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tag 'web-server'. Implicit deny all inbound traffic is the default, so no explicit deny is needed.
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.
- ✗
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with target tags 'web-server' and source range 0.0.0.0/0, and a deny rule for all other traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The deny rule is unnecessary because implicit deny already exists.
- ✗
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and apply to all instances.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow HTTP to all instances, not just those with the 'web-server' tag.
- ✗
Create a deny rule for all ports except tcp:80 with target tags 'web-server'.
Why it's wrong here
This would deny all ports except 80, but the default deny already blocks other traffic. Also, deny rules are evaluated before allow rules, so this could cause issues.
- ✓
Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tags 'web-server'. No deny rule is needed.
Why this is correct
Correct. Default deny all inbound traffic applies; only allow HTTP to tagged instances.
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
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.
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.
- →
Configuring Access and Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Configuring Access and Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All ACE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Associate Cloud Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
ACE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related ACE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuring Access and Security practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to Configuring Access and Security.
Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution.
Ensuring Successful Operation of a Cloud Solution practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to Ensuring Successful Operation of a Cloud Solution.
Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution.
Setting Up a Cloud Solution Environment practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to Setting Up a Cloud Solution Environment.
ACE fundamentals practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to ACE fundamentals.
ACE scenario practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to ACE scenario.
ACE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise ACE questions linked to ACE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free ACE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Configuring Access and Security — This question tests Configuring Access and Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an allow rule for tcp:80 with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tags 'web-server'. No deny rule is needed. — Firewall rules are stateful; you should create an allow rule for HTTP (tcp:80) with source range 0.0.0.0/0 and target tag 'web-server'. Implicit deny all inbound traffic is the default, so no explicit deny is needed.
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
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 →
Keep practising
More ACE practice questions
- A team's Cloud Build pipeline must: (1) run unit tests, (2) build a Docker image only if tests pass, (3) push the image…
- A team needs a database backup job to run every day at 2 AM UTC. The job calls an HTTP endpoint to trigger the backup. T…
- A team wants to receive an email alert when the average CPU utilization of VMs in a managed instance group exceeds 80% f…
- A Go service is consuming significantly more CPU than expected. The team suspects an inefficient function but doesn't kn…
- A network team is creating a new VPC and must decide between auto mode and custom mode. Why would they choose custom mod…
- A company organizes its GCP projects by business unit — Finance, Engineering, and Sales. Which resource is best suited t…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.