- A
Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Why wrong: IAP controls access based on identity, not for SQL injection.
- B
Cloud Armor
Cloud Armor provides WAF capabilities to block SQL injection.
- C
Cloud Audit Logs
Why wrong: Audit logs record activity but do not prevent attacks.
- D
Container Analysis
Why wrong: Container Analysis scans images for vulnerabilities, not runtime attacks.
Question 995 of 1,000
Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. 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 company hosts a web application on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) and wants to protect against SQL injection attacks. Which service should they configure?
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
✓
Cloud Armor
Cloud Armor is the correct choice because it provides web application firewall (WAF) capabilities that can inspect HTTP/HTTPS traffic and block SQL injection attempts using preconfigured rules (e.g., the OWASP Top 10 rule set). It integrates directly with GKE via HTTP(S) Load Balancing, allowing you to enforce security policies at the edge before requests reach your application.
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.
- ✗
Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Why it's wrong here
IAP controls access based on identity, not for SQL injection.
- ✓
Cloud Armor
Why this is correct
Cloud Armor provides WAF capabilities to block SQL injection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud Audit Logs
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs record activity but do not prevent attacks.
- ✗
Container Analysis
Why it's wrong here
Container Analysis scans images for vulnerabilities, not runtime attacks.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often confuse identity-based access controls (IAP) with content-based threat detection (Cloud Armor). IAP controls who can access the application, while Cloud Armor protects against attacks like SQL injection at the web application firewall layer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Armor uses a rules engine that evaluates HTTP request attributes (e.g., headers, URI, body) against signatures for common attack vectors, including SQL injection patterns like ' OR 1=1 --. It supports both preconfigured WAF rules (based on ModSecurity Core Rule Set) and custom rules using CEL (Common Expression Language). In a real-world scenario, you might combine Cloud Armor with Cloud CDN to cache responses and still enforce WAF rules at the edge, reducing load on GKE pods.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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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Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Design for security and compliance — This question tests Design for security and compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Armor — Cloud Armor is the correct choice because it provides web application firewall (WAF) capabilities that can inspect HTTP/HTTPS traffic and block SQL injection attempts using preconfigured rules (e.g., the OWASP Top 10 rule set). It integrates directly with GKE via HTTP(S) Load Balancing, allowing you to enforce security policies at the edge before requests reach your application.
What should I do if I get this PCA 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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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