- A
roles/iam.securityReviewer
Grants read-only access to IAM policies.
- B
roles/iam.securityAdmin
Why wrong: Grants full access to IAM, including modifications.
- C
roles/monitoring.viewer
Why wrong: Grants read access to monitoring metrics, not logs.
- D
roles/logging.viewer
Grants read-only access to logs.
- E
roles/iam.roleViewer
Why wrong: Only allows viewing custom role definitions, not IAM policies.
Question 99 of 1,000
mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
Read-Only Access to IAM Policies and Logs for Auditors
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of pcse exam topics. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 a third-party auditor to view their organization's IAM policies and logs but not make any changes. Which two predefined roles should be granted? (Choose two.)
Quick Answer
The answer is roles/iam.securityReviewer and roles/logging.viewer. These two predefined roles together provide the exact read-only access for auditors to IAM policies and logs that the scenario requires, without granting any write or modify permissions. roles/iam.securityReviewer allows viewing all IAM policies across the organization, while roles/logging.viewer enables reading log entries and log-based metrics, covering the two distinct audit needs. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this pairing tests your understanding of the principle of least privilege and the separation of IAM policy visibility from log visibility. A common trap is selecting roles/viewer, which is too broad and includes permissions like listing resources that auditors don’t need. To remember, think “Reviewer for policies, Viewer for logs” — the word “Reviewer” in the IAM role signals read-only inspection, while “Viewer” in the logging role signals passive observation.
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
✓
roles/iam.securityReviewer
Options A and D are correct. roles/iam.securityReviewer grants read access to IAM policies, and roles/logging.viewer grants read access to logs. Option B (roles/iam.securityAdmin) includes write permissions, which is excessive for a read-only auditor. Option C (roles/monitoring.viewer) provides read access to monitoring data but not logs. Option E (roles/iam.roleViewer) only allows viewing custom roles, not IAM policies or logs.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
roles/iam.securityReviewer
Why this is correct
Grants read-only access to IAM policies.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
roles/iam.securityAdmin
Why it's wrong here
Grants full access to IAM, including modifications.
- ✗
roles/monitoring.viewer
Why it's wrong here
Grants read access to monitoring metrics, not logs.
- ✓
roles/logging.viewer
Why this is correct
Grants read-only access to logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
roles/iam.roleViewer
Why it's wrong here
Only allows viewing custom role definitions, not IAM policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: roles/iam.securityReviewer — Options A and D are correct. roles/iam.securityReviewer grants read access to IAM policies, and roles/logging.viewer grants read access to logs. Option B (roles/iam.securityAdmin) includes write permissions, which is excessive for a read-only auditor. Option C (roles/monitoring.viewer) provides read access to monitoring data but not logs. Option E (roles/iam.roleViewer) only allows viewing custom roles, not IAM policies or logs.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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