- A
Create a custom infoType with a regex pattern
Custom infoTypes allow defining a regex to match the specific phone number pattern.
- B
Use the built-in PHONE_NUMBER infoType
Why wrong: The built-in PHONE_NUMBER detector may not match the specific custom pattern with a +1 prefix and dashes exactly as defined.
- C
Use Cloud Functions to scan the files and call DLP API
Why wrong: Cloud Functions would add complexity; DLP can directly scan Cloud Storage with job triggers and custom infoTypes.
- D
Store the pattern in Secret Manager and reference it in the DLP job
Why wrong: Secret Manager is for secrets, not for DLP patterns; DLP supports inline custom infoType definitions.
Question 190 of 1,000
PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of ensuring data protection. 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 use Cloud DLP to inspect Cloud Storage buckets for phone numbers that match a custom pattern (e.g., +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX). The pattern is not covered by built-in infoTypes. How should the engineer configure the DLP job?
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
✓
Create a custom infoType with a regex pattern
Option A is correct because Cloud DLP allows you to define custom infoTypes using regular expressions to match patterns not covered by built-in infoTypes. By creating a custom infoType with a regex pattern like `\+1-\d{3}-\d{3}-\d{4}`, the DLP job can inspect Cloud Storage buckets for phone numbers in the specified format. This approach directly addresses the requirement without relying on external services or unsupported built-in types.
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.
- ✓
Create a custom infoType with a regex pattern
Why this is correct
Custom infoTypes allow defining a regex to match the specific phone number pattern.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the built-in PHONE_NUMBER infoType
Why it's wrong here
The built-in PHONE_NUMBER detector may not match the specific custom pattern with a +1 prefix and dashes exactly as defined.
- ✗
Use Cloud Functions to scan the files and call DLP API
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Functions would add complexity; DLP can directly scan Cloud Storage with job triggers and custom infoTypes.
- ✗
Store the pattern in Secret Manager and reference it in the DLP job
Why it's wrong here
Secret Manager is for secrets, not for DLP patterns; DLP supports inline custom infoType definitions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is the misconception that built-in infoTypes can be customized or that external services like Secret Manager or Cloud Functions are required for custom pattern matching, when in fact Cloud DLP's custom infoType with regex is the direct and intended solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud DLP custom infoTypes support regex patterns with optional context-based detection (e.g., word boundaries) and can be combined with likelihood thresholds to reduce false positives. A subtle behavior is that regex patterns in DLP are evaluated against each token in the content by default, so patterns spanning multiple tokens (e.g., across line breaks) may require the `single_line` flag or a custom dictionary. In a real-world scenario, an engineer might need to match phone numbers with country codes and dashes while excluding other numeric patterns, which is precisely why custom regex infoTypes exist.
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.
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
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Ensuring Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Ensuring Data Protection practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCSE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCSE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCSE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment.
Ensuring Data Protection practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Ensuring Data Protection.
Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment.
Configuring Network Security practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring Network Security.
Supporting Compliance Requirements practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Supporting Compliance Requirements.
PCSE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE fundamentals.
PCSE scenario practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE scenario.
PCSE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCSE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Ensuring Data Protection — This question tests Ensuring Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a custom infoType with a regex pattern — Option A is correct because Cloud DLP allows you to define custom infoTypes using regular expressions to match patterns not covered by built-in infoTypes. By creating a custom infoType with a regex pattern like `\+1-\d{3}-\d{3}-\d{4}`, the DLP job can inspect Cloud Storage buckets for phone numbers in the specified format. This approach directly addresses the requirement without relying on external services or unsupported built-in types.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More PCSE practice questions
- Match each encryption scope to its description.
- Drag and drop the steps to set up a Private Google Access for on-premises hosts using Private Service Connect in the cor…
- A company is designing a CI/CD pipeline using Cloud Build. Security requirements mandate that the pipeline deploy only t…
- A company must implement data residency requirements that prohibit storing data outside the European Union. They are usi…
- A company wants to allow employees to access a web application running on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) using their cor…
- A security engineer is investigating an incident where an attacker gained access to a Compute Engine instance's serial c…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.