Google PCA Practice Question: Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure
An organization wants to ensure that all Compute Engine instances in a project are patched with the latest security updates. They also want to enforce a custom configuration (e.g., disable root SSH login) across all instances. Which TWO Google Cloud services should they use together?
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
✓
OS Config patch management
OS Config's patch management handles patching, and OS policies enforce configurations like disabling root login. Cloud Monitoring monitors but does not patch; Cloud Asset Inventory discovers resources; Deployment Manager is for infrastructure-as-code, not ongoing configuration.
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 Monitoring
Why it's wrong here
Monitoring tracks metrics but does not enforce configurations.
- ✓
OS Config patch management
Why this is correct
Patch management automates OS patching across instances.
- ✗
Cloud Deployment Manager
Why it's wrong here
Deployment Manager creates resources but does not manage ongoing patching or configuration enforcement.
- ✓
OS Config OS policies
Why this is correct
OS policies enforce desired configuration states (e.g., disabling root login).
- ✗
Cloud Asset Inventory
Why it's wrong here
Asset Inventory provides a view of resources but does not manage patches or configurations.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
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.
Key term
Project
A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end, undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result, managed through specific processes in IT environments.
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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.