Cloud Digital Leader Google Cloud Security Practice Question
A healthcare company runs a containerized patient-records application on Google Kubernetes Engine. The security team wants to detect and block suspicious network traffic between pods, and also wants to scan container images for known vulnerabilities before deployment. Which combination of Google Cloud services should they use to meet these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that Cloud Armor or VPC Service Controls can filter internal pod-to-pod traffic, when they actually protect external edges or API perimeters.
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
✓
GKE network policies with Dataplane V2 for pod traffic and Artifact Registry vulnerability scanning for images
Protecting containerized workloads requires layered controls. GKE network policies with Dataplane V2 enforce pod-level firewall rules inside the cluster, while Artifact Registry provides automated vulnerability scanning of container images. Cloud Armor and VPC Service Controls operate at different layers and cannot inspect pod-to-pod traffic, so they do not fulfill the east-west traffic requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud Armor for pod-to-pod traffic filtering and Container Registry for image scanning
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor is an edge security service that protects external HTTP(S) load balancers from DDoS and web attacks; it cannot inspect or block pod-to-pod traffic inside a GKE cluster. Container Registry also does not perform vulnerability scanning on its own. This pairing does not satisfy the requirement for east-west traffic control or automated image scanning.
- ✗
Google Cloud Armor for pod traffic and Artifact Registry vulnerability scanning for images
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor operates at the external load balancer layer and does not govern pod-to-pod communication. Artifact Registry does offer vulnerability scanning, but the network filtering component is wrong for this scenario. The combination would leave east-west traffic uninspected and unprotected inside the GKE cluster.
- ✓
GKE network policies with Dataplane V2 for pod traffic and Artifact Registry vulnerability scanning for images
Why this is correct
GKE network policies, enforced by Dataplane V2 based on Cilium eBPF, let you define ingress and egress rules between pods, effectively blocking suspicious east-west traffic. Artifact Registry automatically scans container images for known vulnerabilities when they are pushed. Together they provide both runtime network segmentation and pre-deployment image scanning, exactly matching the stated requirements.
- ✗
VPC Service Controls for pod traffic and Binary Authorization for image scanning
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls create a security perimeter around Google Cloud APIs, not around pod-to-pod network flows inside a cluster. Binary Authorization enforces deploy-time attestations but does not scan images for vulnerabilities. Neither service provides the required pod-level network inspection or image vulnerability detection.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Kubernetes Concepts for Non-Technical Leaders
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
Key term
Artifact Registry
Artifact Registry is a managed service for storing, managing, and securing container images and other software packages in a centralized repository.
About these practice questions
This GCDL question is part of Courseiva's 848-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.