- A
Delete the key and use workload identity federation.
Workload identity federation allows authentication without keys, improving security.
- B
Rotate the key every 30 days.
Why wrong: Rotating keys reduces risk but does not eliminate it; avoiding keys entirely is better.
- C
Use a user-managed service account instead.
Why wrong: User-managed vs. Google-managed service accounts are not the primary concern; the issue is key usage.
- D
Restrict the key's usage with IP allowlists.
Why wrong: Service account keys cannot be restricted by IP.
Question 338 of 1,000
easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Delete Service Account Key and Use Workload Identity Federation
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of service account keys. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: service account keys. 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 junior developer created a service account with the roles/storage.admin role and downloaded a JSON key. What is the best practice to improve security?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Quick Answer
The answer is to delete the service account key and use workload identity federation. This is the best practice because workload identity federation allows workloads running outside of Google Cloud to authenticate directly to Google Cloud resources without the need for long-lived, static service account keys, which are a primary security risk if exposed or leaked. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity and access management best practices, specifically the principle of eliminating static credentials in favor of short-lived, federated authentication. A common trap is to think that simply rotating the key (Option B) is sufficient, but rotation only reduces the window of exposure rather than removing the risk entirely. Remember the memory tip: "Keys are risky; federate to eliminate."
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
✓
Delete the key and use workload identity federation.
The best practice is to delete the long-lived JSON key and use workload identity federation, which allows resources to assume a service account identity without a key. This eliminates the risk of key leakage or compromise. Option A is correct. Option D (IP allowlists) adds some protection but does not remove the vulnerability of the key itself. Option B (rotation) reduces the exposure window but still uses keys. Option C (user-managed service account) is not relevant.
Key principle: Service account keys
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Delete the key and use workload identity federation.
Why this is correct
Workload identity federation allows authentication without keys, improving security.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Service account keys
- ✗
Rotate the key every 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
Rotating keys reduces risk but does not eliminate it; avoiding keys entirely is better.
- ✗
Use a user-managed service account instead.
Why it's wrong here
User-managed vs. Google-managed service accounts are not the primary concern; the issue is key usage.
- ✗
Restrict the key's usage with IP allowlists.
Why it's wrong here
Service account keys cannot be restricted by IP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Service account keys
- Workload identity federation
- Role deletion
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
Service account keys
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.
Review service account keys, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Service account keys
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Delete the key and use workload identity federation. — The best practice is to delete the long-lived JSON key and use workload identity federation, which allows resources to assume a service account identity without a key. This eliminates the risk of key leakage or compromise. Option A is correct. Option D (IP allowlists) adds some protection but does not remove the vulnerability of the key itself. Option B (rotation) reduces the exposure window but still uses keys. Option C (user-managed service account) is not relevant.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review service account keys, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Service account keys
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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