Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
A company is using Cloud Armor with HTTP Load Balancing to protect a web application. They want to block traffic from specific IP ranges for all requests except those that include a valid reCAPTCHA token. Which Cloud Armor rule configuration should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse Cloud Armor's rule-based conditional logic with rate limiting or identity-based access controls, leading candidates to choose rate-based rules (A) or IAP (D) instead of recognizing that a deny rule with a condition on reCAPTCHA token presence directly solves the requirement.
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 deny rule for the IP ranges with a condition that the request does not contain a valid reCAPTCHA token.
Cloud Armor security rules support boolean conditions using operators like `request.path` or custom headers. By creating a deny rule for the specific IP ranges with a condition that the request does not contain a valid reCAPTCHA token (evaluated via the `hasRecaptchaToken()` function), you allow traffic from those IPs only when the token is present. This directly implements the requirement without affecting other traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a rate-based rule to limit requests from those IP ranges and add a reCAPTCHA action.
Why it's wrong here
Rate-based does not block all requests.
- ✗
Create a whitelist rule for the IP ranges and attach it as a deny rule with higher priority.
Why it's wrong here
Whitelist allows all from that IP; need to block unless token.
- ✓
Create a deny rule for the IP ranges with a condition that the request does not contain a valid reCAPTCHA token.
Why this is correct
Deny unless token present; token evaluation via Cloud Armor rules.
- ✗
Use Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) to block the IPs and reCAPTCHA for others.
Why it's wrong here
IAP is for user identity, not fine-grained IP blocking with CAPTCHA.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the set of rules web browsers and servers use to communicate and transfer web pages over the internet.
Key term
Cloud Armor
Cloud Armor is a Google Cloud web application firewall (WAF) service that protects applications and websites from attacks like DDoS and SQL injection using customizable security rules.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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