- A
Enable the Cloud KMS API in the project where the bucket will reside.
Why wrong: The Cloud KMS API should already be enabled if a key was created; it is not a separate step for the bucket.
- B
Create a Cloud HSM key instead, as CMEK requires HSM.
Why wrong: CMEK can use software keys; HSM is a separate option.
- C
Add a label to the key ring to associate it with the bucket.
Why wrong: Labels are optional metadata and do not affect encryption permissions.
- D
Grant the Cloud Storage service account the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the key.
The service account that Cloud Storage uses must be authorized to use the key.
Question 770 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 startup wants to encrypt data at rest in Cloud Storage using Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK). They have already created a Cloud KMS key ring and key. What additional step is required to enable CMEK for a new Cloud Storage bucket?
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
✓
Grant the Cloud Storage service account the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the key.
To use CMEK with Cloud Storage, the Cloud Storage service account must be granted the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the specific key. This permission allows the bucket's underlying storage system to encrypt and decrypt objects using the customer-managed key. Without this IAM binding, the bucket cannot access the key, and CMEK operations will fail.
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.
- ✗
Enable the Cloud KMS API in the project where the bucket will reside.
Why it's wrong here
The Cloud KMS API should already be enabled if a key was created; it is not a separate step for the bucket.
- ✗
Create a Cloud HSM key instead, as CMEK requires HSM.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK can use software keys; HSM is a separate option.
- ✗
Add a label to the key ring to associate it with the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Labels are optional metadata and do not affect encryption permissions.
- ✓
Grant the Cloud Storage service account the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the key.
Why this is correct
The service account that Cloud Storage uses must be authorized to use the key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception is that enabling the Cloud KMS API or using Cloud HSM is required for CMEK, when the actual critical step is granting the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role to the Cloud Storage service account on the key.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud Storage uses a service account (e.g., service-<project-number>@gs-project-accounts.iam.gserviceaccount.com) to wrap and unwrap data encryption keys (DEKs) using the CMEK via the Cloud KMS Encrypt and Decrypt API calls. The CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role grants exactly these permissions. In a real-world scenario, if you forget this step, the bucket creation or object upload will fail with a permission denied error, even if the key exists and the user has full access.
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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Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
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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: Grant the Cloud Storage service account the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the key. — To use CMEK with Cloud Storage, the Cloud Storage service account must be granted the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the specific key. This permission allows the bucket's underlying storage system to encrypt and decrypt objects using the customer-managed key. Without this IAM binding, the bucket cannot access the key, and CMEK operations will fail.
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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