- A
Disable the WAF rules entirely and implement IP-based allowlists.
Why wrong: This removes protection and is not scalable for public applications.
- B
Set the WAF rules to 'preview' mode to test their impact without blocking traffic, then adjust thresholds or exclusions based on logs.
Preview mode allows safe testing of rule modifications without disrupting legitimate traffic.
- C
Add a higher priority allow rule to permit the traffic that is being incorrectly blocked.
Why wrong: This could inadvertently allow malicious traffic that matches the same pattern.
- D
Remove the WAF rules and rely solely on rate limiting to protect the application.
Why wrong: Rate limiting does not prevent application-level attacks like SQL injection.
Question 993 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 uses Google Cloud Armor to protect their HTTP load balancer from OWASP Top 10 attacks. After deploying a security policy with pre-configured WAF rules, they notice that some legitimate user requests are being blocked because they match a rule incorrectly. The security team wants to fine-tune the rules to reduce false positives while maintaining strong protection. They also want to evaluate the impact of changes before enforcing them. What should they do?
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
✓
Set the WAF rules to 'preview' mode to test their impact without blocking traffic, then adjust thresholds or exclusions based on logs.
Option B is correct because Google Cloud Armor's 'preview' mode allows you to apply a security policy to a backend service or load balancer without actually blocking traffic. Instead, all matched requests are logged, enabling you to analyze false positives in the logs before enforcing the rules. This approach lets you fine-tune thresholds, add exclusions, or adjust rule priorities based on real traffic patterns, reducing false positives while maintaining strong protection.
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.
- ✗
Disable the WAF rules entirely and implement IP-based allowlists.
Why it's wrong here
This removes protection and is not scalable for public applications.
- ✓
Set the WAF rules to 'preview' mode to test their impact without blocking traffic, then adjust thresholds or exclusions based on logs.
Why this is correct
Preview mode allows safe testing of rule modifications without disrupting legitimate traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add a higher priority allow rule to permit the traffic that is being incorrectly blocked.
Why it's wrong here
This could inadvertently allow malicious traffic that matches the same pattern.
- ✗
Remove the WAF rules and rely solely on rate limiting to protect the application.
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting does not prevent application-level attacks like SQL injection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think adding a higher priority allow rule (Option C) is a valid fine-tuning approach, but it actually creates a security bypass rather than reducing false positives through proper rule adjustment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Google Cloud Armor, a security policy can be set to 'preview' mode at the rule level or policy level, causing matched requests to be logged in Cloud Logging with a 'deny' action simulated but not enforced. This allows you to use Logs Explorer to analyze false positive rates and adjust rule sensitivity (e.g., modifying the 'sensitivity' parameter for preconfigured WAF rules like 'sqli-stable') before switching to 'enforce' mode. A real-world scenario involves tuning the 'xss-stable' rule to exclude specific URL parameters that trigger false positives due to legitimate HTML content.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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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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: Set the WAF rules to 'preview' mode to test their impact without blocking traffic, then adjust thresholds or exclusions based on logs. — Option B is correct because Google Cloud Armor's 'preview' mode allows you to apply a security policy to a backend service or load balancer without actually blocking traffic. Instead, all matched requests are logged, enabling you to analyze false positives in the logs before enforcing the rules. This approach lets you fine-tune thresholds, add exclusions, or adjust rule priorities based on real traffic patterns, reducing false positives while maintaining strong protection.
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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