Google PCA Practice Question: Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure
A company uses Terraform to manage infrastructure. They want to store the Terraform state file remotely and enable state locking to prevent concurrent modifications. Which three Google Cloud services or features should they use? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Object versioning on the state bucket
Cloud Storage is used as a backend for Terraform state. Object versioning provides history and locking via the storage object's generation number. Cloud KMS can encrypt the state file. Cloud NAT is for outbound connectivity. Cloud Shell is not required for state management. Secret Manager is for secrets, not state.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Object versioning on the state bucket
Why this is correct
Versioning enables state history and helps prevent conflicts through generation locking.
- ✓
Cloud Storage
Why this is correct
Cloud Storage is the recommended backend for Terraform state.
- ✗
Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound connectivity, not for state management.
- ✗
Cloud Shell
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Shell provides a command-line environment but is not required for remote state.
- ✓
Cloud KMS
Why this is correct
Cloud KMS can be used to encrypt the state file for security.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
Cloud Shell
Cloud Shell is a browser-based command-line interface that gives you temporary access to a cloud provider’s infrastructure, complete with pre-installed tools and a file system, without needing to install anything on your own computer.
Key term
KMS
KMS (Key Management Service) is a Microsoft technology that automates volume licensing activation for Windows and Office products within an organization's network.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCA 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 PCA exam.