- A
A Collector VPC network with the IDS endpoint
The IDS endpoint is in the collector network.
- B
Public IP addresses on the source VMs
Why wrong: Mirroring works with internal IPs.
- C
A mirrored VPC network with the VMs to be monitored
The source VMs are in the mirrored network.
- D
Cloud NAT on the mirrored VPC
Why wrong: Cloud NAT is not required for mirroring.
- E
A VPN tunnel between the collector and mirrored VPCs
Why wrong: No VPN needed; mirroring happens within the same VPC or via VPC peering.
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 use Cloud IDS to detect threats in their VPC. They have created a Cloud IDS endpoint and need to configure packet mirroring. Which TWO resources must be in place for packet mirroring to work? (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
A Collector VPC network with the IDS endpoint
Packet mirroring requires a Collector VPC (where the IDS endpoint resides) and a mirrored VPC (where source VMs are). The source VMs must be tagged.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A Collector VPC network with the IDS endpoint
- ✗
Public IP addresses on the source VMs
Why it's wrong here
Mirroring works with internal IPs.
- ✓
A mirrored VPC network with the VMs to be monitored
Why this is correct
The source VMs are in the mirrored network.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Cloud NAT on the mirrored VPC
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is not required for mirroring.
- ✗
A VPN tunnel between the collector and mirrored VPCs
Why it's wrong here
No VPN needed; mirroring happens within the same VPC or via VPC peering.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCSE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
- →
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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A Collector VPC network with the IDS endpoint — Packet mirroring requires a Collector VPC (where the IDS endpoint resides) and a mirrored VPC (where source VMs are). The source VMs must be tagged.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCSE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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