PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are benefits of using Cloud NAT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that Cloud NAT provides inbound connectivity or static IPs per instance, when in fact it is strictly outbound and uses a shared pool of IPs.
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
✓
Enables outbound traffic from instances without public IPs
Cloud NAT enables outbound connectivity from private instances that lack public IP addresses. It translates private source IPs to a single or a pool of external IPs, allowing instances to reach the internet while remaining unreachable from outside. This is essential for security and compliance in VPC networks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Supports static IP addresses for all instances
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT uses a static IP for the gateway, not per-instance static IPs.
- ✓
Enables outbound traffic from instances without public IPs
Why this is correct
This is the primary purpose of Cloud NAT.
- ✓
Allows fine-grained control over source IP addresses
Why this is correct
You can specify which source IPs are used for the NAT.
- ✗
Provides inbound port forwarding
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT does not support inbound traffic; it is outbound-only.
- ✗
Automatically scales with the number of instances
Why it's wrong here
Scaling is automatic but this is inherent to the service, not a distinct benefit.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.