- A
Create a VPC peering with the Google APIs VPC
Why wrong: VPC peering is used to connect two VPCs, not to access Google APIs. Private Google Access uses dedicated Google-managed IP ranges.
- B
Enable Private Google Access on the subnet
Private Google Access is a subnet-level setting that allows instances without external IPs to reach Google APIs via internal IP addresses.
- C
Assign external IPs to all instances
Why wrong: Assigning external IPs would provide internet access but does not use internal IP addresses to reach Google APIs. Also, the requirement is to not use external IPs.
- D
Configure a Cloud NAT gateway in the region
Why wrong: Cloud NAT provides outbound internet access but does not enable access to Google APIs via internal IP addresses.
Question 134 of 1,000
PCNE Implementing VPC Instances Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing vpc instances. 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.
A company wants to allow instances in a VPC without external IPs to access Google APIs like BigQuery and Cloud Storage. Which configuration is required?
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 Private Google Access on the subnet
Private Google Access enables instances without external IPs to reach Google APIs via internal IP addresses using the private.googleapis.com (199.36.153.8/30) or restricted.googleapis.com (199.36.153.4/30) VIPs. It must be enabled per subnet.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a VPC peering with the Google APIs VPC
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering is used to connect two VPCs, not to access Google APIs. Private Google Access uses dedicated Google-managed IP ranges.
- ✓
Enable Private Google Access on the subnet
- ✗
Assign external IPs to all instances
Why it's wrong here
Assigning external IPs would provide internet access but does not use internal IP addresses to reach Google APIs. Also, the requirement is to not use external IPs.
- ✗
Configure a Cloud NAT gateway in the region
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT provides outbound internet access but does not enable access to Google APIs via internal IP addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Implementing VPC Instances — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Implementing VPC Instances — This question tests Implementing VPC Instances — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Private Google Access on the subnet — Private Google Access enables instances without external IPs to reach Google APIs via internal IP addresses using the private.googleapis.com (199.36.153.8/30) or restricted.googleapis.com (199.36.153.4/30) VIPs. It must be enabled per subnet.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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