- A
Use the organization policy service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm at the organization level.
This constraint ensures all new VMs must have Shielded VM enabled.
- B
Run a gcloud command after each VM creation to enable Shielded VM.
Why wrong: This is reactive and doesn't enforce compliance.
- C
Apply a deny policy that denies the compute.instances.create permission if Shielded VM is not enabled.
Why wrong: Deny policies cannot enforce resource configuration; they only deny permissions.
- D
Create a custom IAM role that includes compute.instances.create permission and assign it to all users.
Why wrong: IAM permissions don't enforce VM configuration like Shielded VM.
Question 688 of 1,000
PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access within a cloud solution environment. 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 has multiple GCP projects managed under a single organization node. They want to enforce that all Compute Engine VMs are created with Shielded VM features enabled. Which approach should they use?
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
✓
Use the organization policy service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm at the organization level.
Organization policies can enforce constraints across projects. The constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm can be applied at the organization, folder, or project level to require Shielded VM on all new VMs. IAM roles don't enforce configuration, and gcloud commands are manual. Deny policies are for permission denial, not resource configuration.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use the organization policy service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm at the organization level.
Why this is correct
This constraint ensures all new VMs must have Shielded VM enabled.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Run a gcloud command after each VM creation to enable Shielded VM.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and doesn't enforce compliance.
- ✗
Apply a deny policy that denies the compute.instances.create permission if Shielded VM is not enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Deny policies cannot enforce resource configuration; they only deny permissions.
- ✗
Create a custom IAM role that includes compute.instances.create permission and assign it to all users.
Why it's wrong here
IAM permissions don't enforce VM configuration like Shielded VM.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — This question tests Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the organization policy service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm at the organization level. — Organization policies can enforce constraints across projects. The constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm can be applied at the organization, folder, or project level to require Shielded VM on all new VMs. IAM roles don't enforce configuration, and gcloud commands are manual. Deny policies are for permission denial, not resource configuration.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCSE 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 PCSE exam.
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