PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
A security engineer needs to ensure that sensitive columns in BigQuery are automatically masked for certain users. For example, the email column should show only the domain for users with a specific role. Which two services must be configured together?
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
✓
Data Catalog and BigQuery Data Policy
BigQuery column-level security uses policy tags attached to columns, which are defined in Data Catalog taxonomies. To apply masking, you need to use BigQuery Data Policy (also known as data masking) which uses policy tags to define masking rules. Data Catalog provides the taxonomy for policy tags, while BigQuery Data Policy applies the actual masking. IAM roles for masking are granted via the policy tags.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Data Catalog and BigQuery Data Policy
Why this is correct
Data Catalog creates taxonomies and policy tags; BigQuery Data Policy uses those tags to apply data masking rules.
- ✗
Cloud IAM and VPC Service Controls
Why it's wrong here
IAM is used for access control but not for column masking. VPC Service Controls are for perimeter security.
- ✗
Secret Manager and Cloud Functions
Why it's wrong here
Secret Manager stores secrets; Cloud Functions can trigger on rotation but not for BigQuery column masking.
- ✗
Cloud DLP and Cloud KMS
Why it's wrong here
DLP is for inspection and de-identification, not for column masking in BigQuery. KMS is for encryption keys.
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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.