PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
You need to allow on-premises servers to access a Google Cloud VM's internal IP without using a public IP. The on-premises network is connected via Cloud VPN. What configuration is required on the Google Cloud side?
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 VPC subnet where the VM resides. [wrong]
None of the provided options are correct. To allow on-premises servers to access a Google Cloud VM's internal IP over Cloud VPN, no special Google Cloud-side configuration is required beyond ensuring that the VPC subnet route is advertised to the on-premises network via Cloud Router and that firewall rules allow the traffic. Private Google Access is for accessing Google APIs, not VM internal IPs. Cloud NAT is for outbound traffic. A global static external IP exposes the VM externally. Cloud DNS forwarding is for DNS resolution, not IP reachability.
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 Cloud NAT for the on-premises network.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound internet access, not inbound to VM internal IPs.
- ✓
Enable Private Google Access on the VPC subnet where the VM resides. [wrong]
Why this is correct
Private Google Access allows on-premises to access Google APIs and services, not arbitrary VM internal IPs.
- ✗
Assign a global static external IP to the VM.
Why it's wrong here
Assigning a global static external IP would expose the VM to the internet, which is not the requirement.
- ✗
Configure Cloud DNS forwarding to the on-premises DNS servers.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud DNS forwarding is used for DNS resolution, not for IP-level connectivity.
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JA
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.