PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
An organization needs to store API keys for external services. Which Google Cloud service is designed for secure storage of secrets such as API keys, passwords, and certificates?
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 specifically designed for storing secrets like API keys, passwords, and certificates, with versioning, IAM access control, and rotation support.
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 KMS
Why it's wrong here
Cloud KMS manages cryptographic keys, not secrets like API keys.
- ✓
Secret Manager
Why this is correct
Secret Manager is the correct service for storing secrets.
- ✗
Cloud Datastore
Why it's wrong here
Datastore is a NoSQL database, not a secret store.
- ✗
Cloud HSM
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM is a hardware security module for key material, not for storing secrets.
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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.