PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
A company wants to allow users to access an internal web application running on Compute Engine behind a load balancer without requiring a VPN. The solution must authenticate users and enforce access based on user identity and context (e.g., device security). Which Google Cloud service 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
✓
Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) provides zero-trust access control for web applications, authenticating users and enforcing context-aware access policies without requiring VPN. IAP sits in front of the load balancer and verifies identity and context before allowing access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT provides outbound internet access, not authentication.
- ✓
Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Why this is correct
Correct for identity and context-aware access.
- ✗
Cloud Armor
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor provides WAF and DDoS protection, not identity-based access.
- ✗
VPC Service Controls
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration, not user access.
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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.