- A
Create a log sink with _Required log view filter to export Admin Activity logs to Cloud Storage with a retention policy of 7 years.
The _Required log view includes Admin Activity logs. Exporting to Cloud Storage allows archiving with retention policies.
- B
Create a log sink to export Admin Activity logs to BigQuery and set the table expiration to 7 years.
Why wrong: BigQuery is for querying, not long-term archival at lower cost. Cloud Storage is more cost-effective for archival.
- C
Enable Data Access logs for all services and set a custom retention period of 7 years on the log bucket.
Why wrong: Data Access logs are not needed for Admin Activity logs, and audit log retention cannot be extended beyond 400 days in Logging; you must export.
- D
Enable the 'Admin Activity logs' retention to 7 years in the Logging settings.
Why wrong: Audit log retention cannot be changed; you must export logs to extend retention.
PCSE Practice Question: Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of managing operations in a cloud solution environment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 security engineer needs to ensure that all Google Cloud API calls in the organization are logged and retained for 7 years for compliance. Admin Activity logs are enabled by default but retention is limited. Which combination of actions should the engineer take?
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 log sink with _Required log view filter to export Admin Activity logs to Cloud Storage with a retention policy of 7 years.
Admin Activity logs are enabled by default but cannot be retained beyond the default period (400 days for audit logs). To retain for 7 years, you must use a log sink to export them to Cloud Storage (which can be configured with retention policies). BigQuery is for analysis, not archival. The default retention cannot be changed.
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 log sink with _Required log view filter to export Admin Activity logs to Cloud Storage with a retention policy of 7 years.
Why this is correct
The _Required log view includes Admin Activity logs. Exporting to Cloud Storage allows archiving with retention policies.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a log sink to export Admin Activity logs to BigQuery and set the table expiration to 7 years.
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is for querying, not long-term archival at lower cost. Cloud Storage is more cost-effective for archival.
- ✗
Enable Data Access logs for all services and set a custom retention period of 7 years on the log bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Data Access logs are not needed for Admin Activity logs, and audit log retention cannot be extended beyond 400 days in Logging; you must export.
- ✗
Enable the 'Admin Activity logs' retention to 7 years in the Logging settings.
Why it's wrong here
Audit log retention cannot be changed; you must export logs to extend retention.
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment — This question tests Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a log sink with _Required log view filter to export Admin Activity logs to Cloud Storage with a retention policy of 7 years. — Admin Activity logs are enabled by default but cannot be retained beyond the default period (400 days for audit logs). To retain for 7 years, you must use a log sink to export them to Cloud Storage (which can be configured with retention policies). BigQuery is for analysis, not archival. The default retention cannot be changed.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
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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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