This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
When will the key be automatically rotated?
Every 180 days
Why wrong: 180 days would be 15552000s.
Only when manually triggered
Why wrong: Automatic rotation is configured with rotationPeriod.
Every 30 days
Why wrong: 30 days would be 2592000s.
Every 90 days
7776000s = 90 days.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Every 90 days
In Google Cloud, customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) can be configured for automatic rotation with a default period of 90 days. This is enforced by Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) to limit the exposure window if a key is compromised.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Every 180 days
Why it's wrong here
180 days would be 15552000s.
Only when manually triggered
Why it's wrong here
Automatic rotation is configured with rotationPeriod.
Every 30 days
Why it's wrong here
30 days would be 2592000s.
Every 90 days
Why this is correct
7776000s = 90 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect exams often test the default rotation period (90 days) versus other common values (30, 180 days) to catch candidates who confuse it with password expiration policies or other security controls.
Detailed technical explanation
Automatic key rotation works by creating a new key version (e.g., in AWS KMS, a new backing key) while retaining the old one for decryption of existing data. The rotation does not change the key ID or alias, so applications continue to use the same logical key, but new encryption operations use the latest version. This mechanism ensures backward compatibility and minimizes disruption while enforcing cryptographic hygiene.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Design for security and compliance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PCA questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
Google Professional Cloud Architect study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PCA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PCA questions linked to Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability.
Practise PCA questions linked to Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture.
Practise PCA questions linked to Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure.
Practise PCA questions linked to Designing for Security and Compliance.
Practise PCA questions linked to Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes.
Practise PCA questions linked to Design and plan a cloud solution architecture.
Practise PCA questions linked to Manage and provision cloud infrastructure.
Practise PCA questions linked to Design for security and compliance.
Practise PCA questions linked to Analyze and optimize technical and business processes.
Practise PCA questions linked to Manage implementation of cloud architecture.
Practise PCA questions linked to Ensure solution and operations reliability.
Practise PCA questions linked to PCA fundamentals.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Design for security and compliance — This question tests Design for security and compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Every 90 days — In Google Cloud, customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) can be configured for automatic rotation with a default period of 90 days. This is enforced by Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) to limit the exposure window if a key is compromised.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.