PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
A company needs to enforce that all data stored in Cloud Storage and BigQuery is encrypted with customer-managed keys (CMEK). Which TWO actions should they take? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Set the organization policy constraint 'constraints/gcp.cmeKRequired' for Cloud Storage and BigQuery.
To enforce CMEK, a CMEK key must be created in Cloud KMS and then configured on the resources (buckets, datasets). An organization policy can also be set to require CMEK for certain services. Creating a Cloud HSM key is a type of CMEK but is not specifically required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Access Transparency logs.
Why it's wrong here
Access Transparency logs are not related to encryption enforcement.
- ✗
Create a Cloud HSM key to ensure FIPS 140-2 Level 3 compliance.
Why it's wrong here
While HSM is a type of CMEK, it is not required for CMEK; software keys also work.
- ✓
Set the organization policy constraint 'constraints/gcp.cmeKRequired' for Cloud Storage and BigQuery.
Why this is correct
This policy ensures resources are encrypted with CMEK.
- ✗
Use Cloud DLP to inspect and classify data.
Why it's wrong here
DLP does not enforce encryption.
- ✓
Create a Cloud KMS key ring and a symmetric encryption key.
Why this is correct
A CMEK key must be created in Cloud KMS.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.