- A
Use Cloud VPN to connect the on-premises network and access Cloud Storage via private IP
Why wrong: Cloud VPN provides network connectivity but does not provide authentication; credentials are still needed.
- B
Configure a VPN between on-premises and Google Cloud and use a Compute Engine instance as a proxy
Why wrong: This adds complexity and does not address avoiding long-lived keys; the application would still need credentials.
- C
Create a service account key and store it securely on-premises
Why wrong: The requirement is to avoid storing long-lived keys; this option goes against that.
- D
Use workload identity federation to exchange OIDC tokens for Google Cloud tokens
Workload identity federation enables keyless access from external workloads by federating with external IdPs.
PCSE Workload Identity Federation Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access within a cloud solution environment. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: workload Identity Federation. 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 an application running in an on-premises data center to access Google Cloud Storage buckets without storing long-lived service account keys. The on-premises application authenticates using an external identity provider (IdP) that supports OpenID Connect (OIDC). Which Google Cloud feature 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 workload identity federation to exchange OIDC tokens for Google Cloud tokens
Workload identity federation allows the on-premises application to exchange OIDC tokens from the external IdP for short-lived Google Cloud access tokens, eliminating the need to store long-lived service account keys. This directly meets the requirement of accessing Cloud Storage buckets without managing static credentials.
Key principle: Workload Identity Federation
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 Cloud VPN to connect the on-premises network and access Cloud Storage via private IP
Why it's wrong here
Cloud VPN provides network connectivity but does not provide authentication; credentials are still needed.
- ✗
Configure a VPN between on-premises and Google Cloud and use a Compute Engine instance as a proxy
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity and does not address avoiding long-lived keys; the application would still need credentials.
- ✗
Create a service account key and store it securely on-premises
Why it's wrong here
The requirement is to avoid storing long-lived keys; this option goes against that.
- ✓
Use workload identity federation to exchange OIDC tokens for Google Cloud tokens
Why this is correct
Workload identity federation enables keyless access from external workloads by federating with external IdPs.
Related concept
Workload Identity Federation
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common mistake in the Google PCSE exam is to assume that network connectivity solutions like Cloud VPN or proxies are sufficient for authentication and authorization. However, the question requires identity-based access without static keys, which only workload identity federation provides.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Workload identity federation uses the Security Token Service (STS) to exchange an OIDC token (asserting the external identity) for a Google Cloud access token, which is scoped to a specific service account. The federation is configured via a workload identity pool and provider, where the OIDC issuer URL and audience are validated against the token's claims. This approach is ideal for hybrid environments where the on-premises application already has a trusted identity from an external IdP like Azure AD or Okta.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Workload Identity Federation
- OpenID Connect (OIDC)
- Short-lived tokens
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Workload Identity Federation
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review workload Identity Federation, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Workload Identity Federation.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use workload identity federation to exchange OIDC tokens for Google Cloud tokens — Workload identity federation allows the on-premises application to exchange OIDC tokens from the external IdP for short-lived Google Cloud access tokens, eliminating the need to store long-lived service account keys. This directly meets the requirement of accessing Cloud Storage buckets without managing static credentials.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review workload Identity Federation, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Workload Identity Federation
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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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