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Design for security and compliance →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question

This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Cloud Audit Log entry:
```json
{
  "protoPayload": {
    "methodName": "v1.compute.firewalls.insert",
    "resourceName": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls/allow-ssh",
    "authenticationInfo": {
      "principalEmail": "admin@example.com"
    },
    "authorizationInfo": [
      {
        "permission": "compute.firewalls.create",
        "granted": false,
        "resourceAttributes": {
          "name": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls"
        }
      }
    ],
    "status": {
      "code": 7,
      "message": "Permission denied"
    }
  }
}
```

The firewall rule 'allow-ssh' was not created. According to the audit log, what is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Cloud Audit Log entry:
```json
{
  "protoPayload": {
    "methodName": "v1.compute.firewalls.insert",
    "resourceName": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls/allow-ssh",
    "authenticationInfo": {
      "principalEmail": "admin@example.com"
    },
    "authorizationInfo": [
      {
        "permission": "compute.firewalls.create",
        "granted": false,
        "resourceAttributes": {
          "name": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls"
        }
      }
    ],
    "status": {
      "code": 7,
      "message": "Permission denied"
    }
  }
}
```

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

✓

The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission.

The audit log indicates the firewall rule 'allow-ssh' was not created because the user lacks the specific permission required to create firewall rules in Google Cloud. The correct permission is `compute.firewalls.create`, which is part of the `compute.securityAdmin` role but not automatically granted with it; the `compute.securityAdmin` role includes `compute.firewalls.create`, so Option B is factually incorrect. The most likely reason is that the user does not have the `compute.firewalls.create` permission, which is a prerequisite for creating firewall rules.

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.

  • ✗

    The user is not authenticated.

    Why it's wrong here

    The log shows authenticationInfo with principalEmail.

  • ✗

    The user has the compute.securityAdmin role but not compute.firewalls.create.

    Why it's wrong here

    compute.securityAdmin does not include create permission.

  • ✓

    The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission.

    Why this is correct

    AuthorizationInfo shows granted: false for that permission.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The firewall rule already exists and cannot be duplicated.

    Why it's wrong here

    The log shows a permission denied, not a conflict error.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume the `compute.securityAdmin` role does not include `compute.firewalls.create`, when in fact it does, leading them to incorrectly select Option B.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    The log shows authenticationInfo with principalEmail.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In Google Cloud, IAM permissions are granular; `compute.firewalls.create` is required to create firewall rules, and it is included in roles like `compute.securityAdmin` and `compute.networkAdmin`. The audit log records authorization failures with a '403 Forbidden' status and a reason like 'Permission denied' when the user lacks the specific permission. A real-world scenario is when a user has a custom role that includes `compute.firewalls.list` but not `compute.firewalls.create`, leading to a denied creation attempt despite being able to view existing rules.

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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

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: The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission. — The audit log indicates the firewall rule 'allow-ssh' was not created because the user lacks the specific permission required to create firewall rules in Google Cloud. The correct permission is `compute.firewalls.create`, which is part of the `compute.securityAdmin` role but not automatically granted with it; the `compute.securityAdmin` role includes `compute.firewalls.create`, so Option B is factually incorrect. The most likely reason is that the user does not have the `compute.firewalls.create` permission, which is a prerequisite for creating firewall rules.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

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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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.