PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
A company wants to encrypt data at rest in Cloud Storage using a key that they manage and rotate periodically. They also need to ensure that the key material is stored in a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated HSM. Which encryption option 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
✓
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) using Cloud HSM
CMEK with Cloud HSM uses customer-managed keys stored in a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM. GMEK uses Google-managed keys, CSEK requires the customer to supply the key with each API call and Google does not store it, and Cloud HSM alone is not an encryption option; it must be used with CMEK.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Google-managed encryption keys (GMEK)
Why it's wrong here
GMEK uses Google-managed keys; customer does not manage or rotate keys.
- ✓
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) using Cloud HSM
Why this is correct
CMEK with Cloud HSM provides customer-managed keys stored in FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM.
- ✗
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) using Cloud KMS with software keys
Why it's wrong here
CMEK with software keys does not provide FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM storage.
- ✗
Customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK)
Why it's wrong here
CSEK keys are supplied with each API call and not stored by Google; they are not managed via Cloud KMS or stored in HSM.
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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.