- A
Deploy Cloud Armor and apply a WAF rule to block suspicious traffic to the Cloud SQL instance.
Why wrong: Cloud Armor protects HTTP load balancers, not Cloud SQL private connections.
- B
Use the Cloud SQL Auth proxy from all applications to enforce IAM-based authentication.
Why wrong: Auth proxy provides authentication and encryption but does not restrict where data can be sent.
- C
Configure VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect.
VPC SC restricts data access to authorized networks and prevents exfiltration via internet.
- D
Enable customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) on the Cloud SQL instance.
Why wrong: CMEK protects data at rest, not from exfiltration during use.
Question 9 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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 healthcare organization stores Protected Health Information (PHI) in Cloud SQL. They have implemented encryption at rest using CMEK and enforce TLS for all connections. To meet HIPAA compliance, they need to ensure that PHI cannot be exfiltrated from the Cloud SQL instance even if an application is compromised. The Cloud SQL instance is accessed by Compute Engine instances in the same VPC using private IPs. The security team wants to add an additional layer of defense against data exfiltration. 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
✓
Configure VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect.
Option C is correct because VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect prevents data exfiltration by creating a security boundary around the Cloud SQL instance. Even if an application is compromised, the service perimeter blocks unauthorized copying or movement of PHI outside the perimeter, and Private Service Connect ensures traffic stays within Google's network without traversing the public internet. This directly addresses the requirement for an additional layer of defense against exfiltration beyond encryption and TLS.
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.
- ✗
Deploy Cloud Armor and apply a WAF rule to block suspicious traffic to the Cloud SQL instance.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor protects HTTP load balancers, not Cloud SQL private connections.
- ✗
Use the Cloud SQL Auth proxy from all applications to enforce IAM-based authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Auth proxy provides authentication and encryption but does not restrict where data can be sent.
- ✓
Configure VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect.
Why this is correct
VPC SC restricts data access to authorized networks and prevents exfiltration via internet.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) on the Cloud SQL instance.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK protects data at rest, not from exfiltration during use.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In Google PCA exams, the trap is that candidates confuse encryption (CMEK) or secure connectivity (Auth proxy) with exfiltration prevention, not realizing that VPC Service Controls is the only option that creates a data boundary to block unauthorized data movement even from compromised applications.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Service Controls uses context-aware access policies and service perimeters to restrict data movement between Google Cloud services. When Private Service Connect is used with Cloud SQL, the instance is accessed via an internal IP address that is part of a managed VPC, and the service perimeter enforces egress rules that block data from being copied to resources outside the perimeter, even if the attacker has valid credentials. This is different from network-level controls like firewalls, which only block unauthorized access but not authorized exfiltration.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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: Configure VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect. — Option C is correct because VPC Service Controls with a service perimeter that includes the Cloud SQL instance and uses Private Service Connect prevents data exfiltration by creating a security boundary around the Cloud SQL instance. Even if an application is compromised, the service perimeter blocks unauthorized copying or movement of PHI outside the perimeter, and Private Service Connect ensures traffic stays within Google's network without traversing the public internet. This directly addresses the requirement for an additional layer of defense against exfiltration beyond encryption and TLS.
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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