- A
Cloud Armor
Why wrong: Cloud Armor is for WAF and DDoS protection, not connectivity.
- B
Cloud NAT
Why wrong: Cloud NAT is for outbound internet, not private API access.
- C
Private Google Access
Private Google Access enables the VPC (and on-premises via VPN) to use the PSC endpoints.
- D
Private Service Connect
PSC endpoints provide private IPs for Google APIs.
- E
VPC Service Controls
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls restrict data access, not connectivity.
Question 320 of 1,000
PCSE Configuring Network Security Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network security. 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 wants to enable private connectivity from its on-premises network to Google APIs (e.g., Cloud Storage, BigQuery) without using public IPs. They have a Cloud VPN connection to a VPC. Which TWO services or configurations are required? (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
✓
Private Google Access
Private Service Connect allows you to create private IP endpoints for Google APIs in your VPC, making them accessible via internal IPs. Private Google Access must be enabled on the subnet where the endpoints are attached to allow the endpoint's traffic to be properly routed and to enable DNS resolution of Google API hostnames to the private IPs within the VPC. On-premises traffic from Cloud VPN can then reach these private IPs directly. Therefore, both services are required to achieve private connectivity without public IPs.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 Armor
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor is for WAF and DDoS protection, not connectivity.
- ✗
Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound internet, not private API access.
- ✓
Private Google Access
- ✓
Private Service Connect
- ✗
VPC Service Controls
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls restrict data access, not connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCSE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
- →
Configuring Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Configuring Network Security practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Network Security — This question tests Configuring Network Security — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Private Google Access — Private Service Connect allows you to create private IP endpoints for Google APIs in your VPC, making them accessible via internal IPs. Private Google Access must be enabled on the subnet where the endpoints are attached to allow the endpoint's traffic to be properly routed and to enable DNS resolution of Google API hostnames to the private IPs within the VPC. On-premises traffic from Cloud VPN can then reach these private IPs directly. Therefore, both services are required to achieve private connectivity without public IPs.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCSE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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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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