- A
Enable Key Access Justifications on the Cloud KMS key and allow access only for justified requests.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Key Access Justifications provide logging and justification for key usage but do not control read access to objects based on encryption key.
- B
Set a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK.
Correct. By denying access if the encryption type is not CMEK, you ensure only objects encrypted with a Cloud KMS key can be read. This can be combined with a condition on the specific key resource name for more granular control.
- C
Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The `resource.hasTag` attribute is not valid for Cloud Storage object IAM conditions. The correct attribute for encryption key is `request.object.encryption.key_name`.
- D
Configure VPC Service Controls to include the bucket and the Cloud KMS key resource.
Why wrong: Incorrect. VPC Service Controls restrict data exfiltration across perimeters but do not enforce per-object encryption key requirements for read access.
Google PCA IAM Conditions Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: iAM Conditions. 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 wants to restrict access to a Cloud Storage bucket so that only objects encrypted with a specific Cloud KMS key can be read. Which approach should they use?
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 a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK.
Option B is correct because using a bucket policy with a condition on the encryption type (`request.object.encryption.type`) denies access to objects not encrypted with CMEK. This ensures that only objects encrypted with a customer-managed key (Cloud KMS) can be read. While the requirement mentions a specific key, the bucket policy can be further refined with a condition on the key resource name, but Option B is the only option that correctly uses encryption type checking. Option C is incorrect because `resource.hasTag` is not a valid IAM condition attribute for Cloud Storage objects; the correct attribute is `request.object.encryption.key_name`.
Key principle: IAM Conditions
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Key Access Justifications on the Cloud KMS key and allow access only for justified requests.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Key Access Justifications provide logging and justification for key usage but do not control read access to objects based on encryption key.
- ✓
Set a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK.
Why this is correct
Correct. By denying access if the encryption type is not CMEK, you ensure only objects encrypted with a Cloud KMS key can be read. This can be combined with a condition on the specific key resource name for more granular control.
Related concept
IAM Conditions
- ✗
Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The `resource.hasTag` attribute is not valid for Cloud Storage object IAM conditions. The correct attribute for encryption key is `request.object.encryption.key_name`.
- ✗
Configure VPC Service Controls to include the bucket and the Cloud KMS key resource.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VPC Service Controls restrict data exfiltration across perimeters but do not enforce per-object encryption key requirements for read access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may think IAM conditions can use `resource.hasTag` to check encryption key, but this attribute does not exist. Instead, they should use `request.object.encryption.type` and `request.object.encryption.key_name` for such constraints.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, IAM conditions with `resource.hasTag` evaluate the object's metadata, specifically the `kmsKeyName` tag that is automatically set when a CMEK-encrypted object is uploaded. This condition is evaluated at access time, ensuring that even if an object is stored in the bucket, it cannot be read unless it was encrypted with the exact KMS key specified. A subtle behavior is that this condition does not prevent listing the bucket or writing new objects; it only controls read access to existing objects, which is critical for scenarios where you want to allow uploads but restrict reads to CMEK-protected data.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM Conditions
- request.object.encryption.type
- Bucket Policy
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
IAM Conditions
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review iAM Conditions, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — IAM Conditions.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK. — Option B is correct because using a bucket policy with a condition on the encryption type (`request.object.encryption.type`) denies access to objects not encrypted with CMEK. This ensures that only objects encrypted with a customer-managed key (Cloud KMS) can be read. While the requirement mentions a specific key, the bucket policy can be further refined with a condition on the key resource name, but Option B is the only option that correctly uses encryption type checking. Option C is incorrect because `resource.hasTag` is not a valid IAM condition attribute for Cloud Storage objects; the correct attribute is `request.object.encryption.key_name`.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review iAM Conditions, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
IAM Conditions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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