PCD Integrating Google Cloud services Practice Question
A company stores sensitive user data in Cloud Storage. They want to ensure that only authenticated users with the appropriate permissions can access the data, and that data is encrypted at rest. Which two steps should they take? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The PCD exam often tests the misconception that enabling default encryption or using CMEK is optional or that public access prevention alone satisfies access control, when in fact IAM is the primary mechanism for user-level authorization and default encryption is already enabled.
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
✓
Enable default encryption on the bucket using Google-managed keys.
Cloud Storage buckets are encrypted at rest by default using Google-managed keys, which satisfies the requirement for data encryption without additional configuration. Option C is correct because IAM roles provide fine-grained access control, ensuring only authenticated users with appropriate permissions can access the data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure a Customer-Managed Encryption Key (CMEK) in Cloud KMS.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK is optional, not required.
- ✓
Enable default encryption on the bucket using Google-managed keys.
Why this is correct
Default server-side encryption is already enabled.
- ✓
Use IAM roles to grant access to specific users and groups.
Why this is correct
IAM controls access.
- ✗
Set bucket-level public access prevention.
Why it's wrong here
This prevents public access, not encryption.
- ✗
Enable VPC Service Controls to restrict data access.
Why it's wrong here
VPC SC is for perimeter security, not encryption.
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About these practice questions
This PCD question is part of Courseiva's 964-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCD 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 PCD exam.