Google PCA Designing for Security and Compliance Practice Question
An organization uses Active Directory (AD) on-premises. They want to synchronize user accounts and groups to Google Cloud Identity so that users can sign in with their existing AD 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
✓
Google Cloud Directory Sync
Google Cloud Directory Sync (GCDS) is the tool that synchronizes users and groups from an existing LDAP directory, such as Active Directory, to Cloud Identity. It does not handle SAML SSO directly.
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 Platform
Why it's wrong here
Identity Platform is for customer-facing authentication, not directory sync.
- ✓
Google Cloud Directory Sync
Why this is correct
GCDS syncs users and groups from AD to Cloud Identity.
- ✗
Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy
Why it's wrong here
IAP provides zero-trust access to applications, not directory synchronization.
- ✗
Security Command Center
Why it's wrong here
Security Command Center is a security and risk dashboard.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
Organization
An Organization is a top-level container in Google Cloud that represents your company or entities and serves as the root node for all your cloud resources, policies, and access control.
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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.