Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
A healthcare SaaS provider runs workloads in Google Cloud and needs to comply with HIPAA. They use Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL and want to encrypt data at rest with customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK). Which steps must they take?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume CMEK can be enabled after instance creation (like enabling encryption on a bucket) or confuse CMEK with CSEK, but Cloud SQL requires the key to be specified at creation time and does not support post-creation encryption changes.
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
✓
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key, then specify the key when creating the Cloud SQL instance
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL supports CMEK only at instance creation time. You must first create a Cloud KMS key ring and key in the same region as the instance, then specify that key when creating the Cloud SQL instance. This ensures that the data at rest is encrypted with a customer-managed key, meeting HIPAA compliance requirements for control over encryption keys.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key, then specify the key when creating the Cloud SQL instance
Why this is correct
This is the correct process for CMEK in Cloud SQL.
- ✗
Use customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK) by uploading your own key material
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL does not support CSEK; it supports CMEK via Cloud KMS.
- ✗
Enable CMEK in the Cloud SQL instance's settings after creation
Why it's wrong here
CMEK must be configured at instance creation; cannot be added later.
- ✗
Create a Cloud HSM key and grant the Cloud SQL service account access to it
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM can be used through Cloud KMS, but you need a key in Cloud KMS, not directly Cloud HSM.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
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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.