- A
Use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and store the key in a Secret Manager accessible only from the on-premises HSM.
Why wrong: CSEK keys are supplied by the customer per request, not managed by an external HSM.
- B
Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
EKM allows you to use an external key management partner, including on-premises HSMs, to wrap the Google-managed encryption key.
- C
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) with a Cloud KMS key that is generated from the on-premises HSM.
Why wrong: CMEK keys are generated and stored in Cloud KMS, not directly using an external HSM.
- D
Encrypt each object client-side with a key from the on-premises HSM before uploading to Cloud Storage.
Why wrong: This would block server-side features like object metadata and versioning, and is not integrated.
Google PCA Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: cloud External Key Manager (EKM). 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 healthcare organization is storing sensitive patient data in Cloud Storage. They need to ensure that all objects are encrypted with a key managed by their on-premises HSM. Which encryption 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
Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) allows you to use an external key management system, such as an on-premises HSM, to manage encryption keys for Google Cloud services. This approach meets the requirement because the key never leaves the HSM, and Cloud Storage uses the key via the EKM integration, ensuring the organization retains full control over the key lifecycle.
Key principle: Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
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 Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and store the key in a Secret Manager accessible only from the on-premises HSM.
Why it's wrong here
CSEK keys are supplied by the customer per request, not managed by an external HSM.
- ✓
Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
Why this is correct
EKM allows you to use an external key management partner, including on-premises HSMs, to wrap the Google-managed encryption key.
Related concept
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
- ✗
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) with a Cloud KMS key that is generated from the on-premises HSM.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK keys are generated and stored in Cloud KMS, not directly using an external HSM.
- ✗
Encrypt each object client-side with a key from the on-premises HSM before uploading to Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
This would block server-side features like object metadata and versioning, and is not integrated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In Google PCA, the trap here is that candidates confuse CMEK with EKM: CMEK keys are stored in Cloud KMS, not on an external HSM. EKM allows using an external key manager like an on-premises HSM.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud EKM uses the Cloud External Key Manager API to integrate with external key management partners via the Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) or a RESTful API. Under the hood, when Cloud Storage needs to encrypt or decrypt an object, it sends a request to the external key manager, which performs the cryptographic operation using the key stored on the HSM, ensuring the key never leaves the HSM. This is critical for compliance with regulations like PCI DSS or HIPAA that require the key to remain under the organization's physical control.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
- Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK)
- Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK)
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
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
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 cloud External Key Manager (EKM), then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Cloud External Key Manager (EKM).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM. — Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) allows you to use an external key management system, such as an on-premises HSM, to manage encryption keys for Google Cloud services. This approach meets the requirement because the key never leaves the HSM, and Cloud Storage uses the key via the EKM integration, ensuring the organization retains full control over the key lifecycle.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review cloud External Key Manager (EKM), then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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