PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
An organization needs to store API keys and database credentials in a central, auditable service with versioning and IAM access control. Which GCP service should they use?
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
✓
Secret Manager
Secret Manager is purpose-built for storing secrets like API keys, certificates, and database passwords. It provides versioning, IAM policies (e.g., secretmanager.versions.access), and automatic rotation with Pub/Sub notifications.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud HSM
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM provides hardware security module for key material, but is not a secret storage service.
- ✓
Secret Manager
Why this is correct
Secret Manager is the correct service for storing and managing secrets with versioning and IAM.
- ✗
Cloud DLP
Why it's wrong here
Cloud DLP is for data loss prevention inspection and de-identification, not for secret storage.
- ✗
Cloud KMS
Why it's wrong here
Cloud KMS is for encryption key management, not for storing application secrets like API 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.