Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
Your organization has a policy that all Compute Engine instances must have specific labels (env, team, cost-center) applied. You want to enforce this automatically when instances are created. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose reactive solutions (like Cloud Functions or alerts) because they seem simpler, but the exam emphasizes preventive enforcement using Organization Policy constraints for compliance-driven requirements.
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
✓
Use the Organization Policy service with a custom constraint to require labels on Compute Engine instances.
Organization Policy Service with a custom constraint allows you to enforce that all Compute Engine instances must have specific labels (env, team, cost-center) at creation time. This is a preventive control that blocks creation of non-compliant instances, unlike reactive or permission-based approaches. Custom constraints use the `compute.googleapis.com/instance` resource type and can require label keys or values using CEL (Common Expression Language) syntax.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Cloud Audit Logs and set up a metric-based alert to detect instances without labels.
Why it's wrong here
This is detective, not preventive.
- ✗
Create a Cloud Function that listens for instance creation events and adds labels automatically.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive; the instance is created without labels temporarily.
- ✗
Assign a custom IAM role that includes permission to label instances, and remove the default compute.instances.create permission.
Why it's wrong here
This does not enforce labels; it just restricts creation.
- ✓
Use the Organization Policy service with a custom constraint to require labels on Compute Engine instances.
Why this is correct
Organization policies can enforce label requirements at creation time.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Google Cloud Resource Hierarchy and Organization
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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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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.