Google PCA Designing for Security and Compliance Practice Question
An organization uses Active Directory (AD) on-premises and wants to synchronize user identities to Google Cloud Identity so that users can access G Suite and GCP resources with their existing credentials. Which service 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
✓
Cloud Directory Sync
Cloud Directory Sync (formerly Google Cloud Directory Sync) synchronizes users and groups from LDAP-compliant directories like Active Directory to Cloud Identity. It allows single sign-on and identity management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Why it's wrong here
IAP provides context-aware access control for applications, not directory sync.
- ✗
Federation with Google Identity Platform
Why it's wrong here
Google Identity Platform supports federation but not directory synchronization.
- ✓
Cloud Directory Sync
Why this is correct
Cloud Directory Sync synchronizes identities from on-premises LDAP/AD to Cloud Identity.
- ✗
SAML SSO
Why it's wrong here
SAML SSO allows federation but does not synchronize user directory.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
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JA
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.