hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
Cloud Audit Log Types and Defaults
Which TWO of the following are true regarding Cloud Audit Logs?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that System Event audit logs record non-human administrative actions and are enabled by default, alongside Admin Activity logs which are always enabled and cannot be disabled. This is because Cloud Audit Logs are divided into three main types: Admin Activity logs track human-initiated administrative actions, System Event logs capture Google Cloud system-generated actions like automatic updates or resource creation, and Data Access logs track API calls that read or modify user data. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this distinction tests your understanding of default audit log configurations and retention policies, with a common trap being that Data Access logs are disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled, while all audit logs are retained for 400 days. A useful memory tip is to remember that "Admin and System are always on, Data Access must be drawn."
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
✓
Admin Activity audit logs are enabled by default and cannot be disabled.
Options B and E are correct. Admin Activity audit logs are enabled by default and cannot be disabled. System Event audit logs are also enabled by default and record non-human administrative actions. Option A is incorrect because Data Access audit logs are disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled. Option C is incorrect because Cloud Audit Logs have a default retention period of 400 days, not indefinite. Option D is incorrect because Cloud Audit Logs provide logs, not monitoring metrics for log volume.
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 Access audit logs are enabled by default for all services.
Why it's wrong here
Disabled by default; must be explicitly enabled.
- ✓
Admin Activity audit logs are enabled by default and cannot be disabled.
Why this is correct
Default on for all projects.
- ✗
Cloud Audit Logs are retained indefinitely unless a retention policy is set.
Why it's wrong here
Default retention is 400 days.
- ✗
Cloud Audit Logs include monitoring metrics for log volume.
Why it's wrong here
Metrics are separate, in Cloud Monitoring.
- ✓
System Event audit logs record non-human administrative actions and are enabled by default.
Why this is correct
They log Google Cloud actions like maintenance.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PCSE
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security operations team is using Cloud Audit Logs to investigate a suspicious data export from a Cloud Storage bucket. They need to see which user accessed a specific object and when. Which log type should they examine?
medium- ✓ A.Data Access logs
- B.Policy Denied logs
- C.System Event logs
- D.Admin Activity logs
Why A: Data Access logs capture all operations that read, write, or delete data in Cloud Storage objects, including who accessed a specific object and when. Admin Activity logs record only configuration changes, not data access events.
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.