PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
An organization needs to grant a contractor access to a specific project for 30 days, with the ability to start and stop Compute Engine instances but not delete them. Which IAM role should be used?
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
✓
Compute Instance Admin (v1) (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1)
The Compute Instance Admin (v1) role (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1) allows starting, stopping, and modifying instances, but not deleting them. It is suitable for this scenario. Compute Admin (roles/compute.admin) allows full control including deletion. Compute Viewer (roles/compute.viewer) is read-only. Compute Instance Operator (beta) might exist but not standard.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Compute Viewer (roles/compute.viewer)
Why it's wrong here
This role is read-only and does not allow starting or stopping instances.
- ✗
Compute OS Login (roles/compute.osLogin)
Why it's wrong here
This role allows SSH access but not starting/stopping instances.
- ✗
Compute Admin (roles/compute.admin)
Why it's wrong here
This role allows full control, including deletion, which is not desired.
- ✓
Compute Instance Admin (v1) (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1)
Why this is correct
This role allows starting/stopping instances but not deleting them.
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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.