- A
Use Cloud HSM to generate a key and handle encryption outside of Cloud Storage.
Why wrong: Cloud HSM alone does not integrate with Cloud Storage for automatic rotation; CMEK is needed.
- B
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key with CMEK, set a rotation period of 90 days, and configure the bucket to use that key.
CMEK with automatic rotation meets the requirement of customer-controlled keys with no manual effort.
- C
Use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and write a script to rotate the key every 90 days.
Why wrong: CSEK requires manual key management and does not support automatic rotation.
- D
Continue using default encryption as it is automatically rotated by Google.
Why wrong: Default encryption uses Google-managed keys, not customer-controlled.
Question 678 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. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 small company wants to store sensitive files in Cloud Storage and ensure they are encrypted with a key that they control and rotate automatically every 90 days. They are currently using the default encryption provided by Google Cloud. They need a solution that is easy to manage and does not require manual key rotation. 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
✓
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key with CMEK, set a rotation period of 90 days, and configure the bucket to use that key.
Option B is correct because Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) via Cloud KMS allow the company to control the key while leveraging automatic rotation. By creating a key ring and key with a 90-day rotation period, and configuring the Cloud Storage bucket to use that key, the company meets the requirement for automated rotation without manual intervention. This solution is easy to manage and integrates natively with Cloud Storage, avoiding the complexity of external encryption or scripting.
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 Cloud HSM to generate a key and handle encryption outside of Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM alone does not integrate with Cloud Storage for automatic rotation; CMEK is needed.
- ✓
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key with CMEK, set a rotation period of 90 days, and configure the bucket to use that key.
Why this is correct
CMEK with automatic rotation meets the requirement of customer-controlled keys with no manual effort.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and write a script to rotate the key every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
CSEK requires manual key management and does not support automatic rotation.
- ✗
Continue using default encryption as it is automatically rotated by Google.
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption uses Google-managed keys, not customer-controlled.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse CMEK (customer-managed, automatic rotation) with CSEK (customer-supplied, manual rotation) or assume default encryption already meets the control requirement, but the question explicitly demands customer-controlled keys with automatic rotation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud KMS supports automatic key rotation by specifying a rotation period (e.g., 90 days) at key creation; the service generates a new primary key version while retaining older versions for decryption of existing data. When a Cloud Storage bucket is configured with a CMEK key, all objects written to the bucket are encrypted with the current primary version of that key, and decryption uses the appropriate version automatically. This design ensures that key rotation is transparent to the application and does not require re-encryption of existing objects.
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 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.
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: Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key with CMEK, set a rotation period of 90 days, and configure the bucket to use that key. — Option B is correct because Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) via Cloud KMS allow the company to control the key while leveraging automatic rotation. By creating a key ring and key with a 90-day rotation period, and configuring the Cloud Storage bucket to use that key, the company meets the requirement for automated rotation without manual intervention. This solution is easy to manage and integrates natively with Cloud Storage, avoiding the complexity of external encryption or scripting.
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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