- A
Cloud NAT requires each VM to have a unique external IP address.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. Cloud NAT does not assign unique external IPs per VM; it can use shared NAT IPs.
- B
The VMs need a default route pointing to the NAT gateway.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. The required route is a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the internet gateway, not directly to the NAT gateway.
- C
A static route must be created for the external IP range via the NAT gateway.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. No static route is needed for the external IP range; Cloud NAT uses the default route to determine which traffic to NAT.
- D
The VMs might be in a different subnet than the one where Cloud NAT is configured.
This is correct. Cloud NAT is configured per subnet. If VMs are in a different subnet without Cloud NAT, they cannot use it for outbound connectivity.
PCNE Cloud NAT Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of cloud nat. 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. A key principle to apply: cloud NAT. 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.
A company uses Cloud NAT to enable outbound connectivity for private VMs. They notice that some VMs are not able to reach a specific external IP range. The VMs have no tags or service accounts. What is the most likely cause?
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.
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 VMs might be in a different subnet than the one where Cloud NAT is configured.
The most likely cause is that the VMs are in a subnet that does not have Cloud NAT configured. Cloud NAT is configured on a per-subnet basis, and only VMs in subnets with Cloud NAT enabled can use it for outbound traffic. Option A is incorrect because Cloud NAT does not require each VM to have a unique external IP; it uses a pool of NAT IPs. Option B is incorrect because VMs already have a default route (0.0.0.0/0) via the default internet gateway, and Cloud NAT works with that route; there is no need for a route pointing to the NAT gateway. Option C is incorrect because no static route is needed for specific external IP ranges; Cloud NAT uses the default route and performs source NAT for all outbound traffic.
Key principle: Cloud NAT
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 NAT requires each VM to have a unique external IP address.
- ✗
The VMs need a default route pointing to the NAT gateway.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. The required route is a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the internet gateway, not directly to the NAT gateway.
- ✗
A static route must be created for the external IP range via the NAT gateway.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. No static route is needed for the external IP range; Cloud NAT uses the default route to determine which traffic to NAT.
- ✓
The VMs might be in a different subnet than the one where Cloud NAT is configured.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common mistake is to assume that a static route for the external IP range is necessary when Cloud NAT seems to block specific addresses. However, Cloud NAT uses the default route, and the actual issue is often that the VMs are in a subnet without Cloud NAT configured.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud NAT
- Default Route
- Subnet
- Static Route
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
Cloud NAT
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloud NAT, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Cloud NAT
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VMs might be in a different subnet than the one where Cloud NAT is configured. — The most likely cause is that the VMs are in a subnet that does not have Cloud NAT configured. Cloud NAT is configured on a per-subnet basis, and only VMs in subnets with Cloud NAT enabled can use it for outbound traffic. Option A is incorrect because Cloud NAT does not require each VM to have a unique external IP; it uses a pool of NAT IPs. Option B is incorrect because VMs already have a default route (0.0.0.0/0) via the default internet gateway, and Cloud NAT works with that route; there is no need for a route pointing to the NAT gateway. Option C is incorrect because no static route is needed for specific external IP ranges; Cloud NAT uses the default route and performs source NAT for all outbound traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review cloud NAT, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Cloud NAT
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCNE 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 PCNE exam.
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