- A
Use a pre-configured WAF rule that includes 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')' with action 'deny(403)'.
Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rules detect common SQL injection signatures.
- B
Configure a rate-limiting rule with action 'rateLimit' to throttle traffic from suspicious IPs.
Why wrong: Rate limiting does not inspect request content for injection.
- C
Create a rule that redirects traffic to a reCAPTCHA challenge for validation.
Why wrong: Redirecting does not block the request; it may still be processed.
- D
Set a security policy rule with action 'deny(403)' and a simple condition on the user-agent header.
Why wrong: A simple user-agent condition does not detect SQL injection patterns.
Question 964 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 wants to use Cloud Armor to protect their HTTP load balancer from SQL injection attacks. Which rule action should they configure to block malicious requests?
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
✓
Use a pre-configured WAF rule that includes 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')' with action 'deny(403)'.
Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rules include 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')', which specifically detects SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests. Applying the 'deny(403)' action blocks malicious requests by returning a 403 Forbidden status, preventing the attack from reaching the backend. This is the correct approach because Cloud Armor WAF rules are purpose-built for application-layer threats like SQL injection.
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.
- ✓
Use a pre-configured WAF rule that includes 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')' with action 'deny(403)'.
Why this is correct
Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rules detect common SQL injection signatures.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a rate-limiting rule with action 'rateLimit' to throttle traffic from suspicious IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting does not inspect request content for injection.
- ✗
Create a rule that redirects traffic to a reCAPTCHA challenge for validation.
Why it's wrong here
Redirecting does not block the request; it may still be processed.
- ✗
Set a security policy rule with action 'deny(403)' and a simple condition on the user-agent header.
Why it's wrong here
A simple user-agent condition does not detect SQL injection patterns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly think that any 'deny' action or generic security policy can block SQL injection, but the key is using Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rule specifically designed to inspect for injection patterns, not just a blanket deny on headers or rate limits.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rules use ModSecurity-compatible Core Rule Set (CRS) signatures to match SQL injection patterns, such as UNION SELECT statements or OR 1=1 payloads, across URI, query parameters, and request body. The 'sqli-stable' rule set is versioned and regularly updated by Google to cover new attack vectors, and the 'deny(403)' action terminates the request at the edge before it reaches the load balancer, reducing backend load. In a real-world scenario, combining this with a 'throttle' action for false positives can fine-tune protection without blocking legitimate traffic.
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: Use a pre-configured WAF rule that includes 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')' with action 'deny(403)'. — Cloud Armor's pre-configured WAF rules include 'evaluatePreconfiguredExpr('sqli-stable')', which specifically detects SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests. Applying the 'deny(403)' action blocks malicious requests by returning a 403 Forbidden status, preventing the attack from reaching the backend. This is the correct approach because Cloud Armor WAF rules are purpose-built for application-layer threats like SQL injection.
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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