mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CMEK with Cloud Storage Key Rotation for Compliance
A healthcare organization is migrating to Google Cloud and needs to ensure that all data stored in Cloud Storage is encrypted at rest with customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) to meet HIPAA requirements. The security team wants to centrally manage key rotation and access. Which solution should they implement?
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to use Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) with CMEK and enable key rotation. This approach directly satisfies the healthcare organization’s need for CMEK with Cloud Storage key rotation compliance because Cloud KMS allows you to centrally manage and rotate customer-managed encryption keys while Cloud Storage automatically encrypts all data at rest using the specified key. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Cloud KMS integrates with Cloud Storage to enforce encryption policies, and a common trap is assuming that Google-managed keys or default encryption meet HIPAA’s requirement for customer control. Remember that CMEK gives you ownership of the key material, and enabling rotation ensures compliance with periodic key change mandates. Memory tip: “CMEK + KMS = Compliance with Control” — the key is in the name: Customer-Managed means you manage the rotation.
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Cloud HSM with Cloud KMS, thinking that HSM is required for HIPAA compliance, but Cloud KMS with CMEK alone satisfies the requirement for customer-managed keys and key rotation without the added cost and complexity of HSM.
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
✓
Use Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) with CMEK and enable key rotation.
Cloud KMS with CMEK allows the organization to centrally manage encryption keys, including automated key rotation, while maintaining customer control over the keys used to encrypt Cloud Storage data. This meets HIPAA requirements for encryption at rest with customer-managed keys, as Cloud KMS integrates directly with Cloud Storage to enforce encryption using the specified key.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to de-identify data before storing.
Why it's wrong here
DLP does not handle encryption at rest; it's for data masking and discovery.
- ✗
Use Cloud Hardware Security Module (Cloud HSM) with CMEK.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM is an option but not strictly required; Cloud KMS without HSM can also meet HIPAA if properly configured.
- ✓
Use Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) with CMEK and enable key rotation.
Why this is correct
Cloud KMS provides centralized key management, rotation, and integrates with Cloud Storage for CMEK.
- ✗
Use customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK) stored in Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
CSEK requires key management outside GCP, which adds complexity and may not meet centralized control requirements.
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Variation 1. Which TWO configurations are required to use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) with Cloud Storage to meet a compliance requirement that keys must be rotated every 30 days? (Choose two.)
medium- A.Set a key destruction policy to prevent accidental deletion of the key.
- B.Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) to manage the key externally.
- ✓ C.Create a Cloud KMS key ring and key with a rotation period of 30 days.
- D.Use a Cloud HSM key with protection level HSM to meet key storage requirements.
- ✓ E.Grant the Cloud Storage service account the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role on the key.
Why C: Cloud KMS allows you to set a rotation period on a key, and when you use a CMEK with Cloud Storage, the key is used to encrypt the data encryption keys (DEKs). Setting a rotation period of 30 days ensures that the key material is automatically rotated every 30 days, meeting the compliance requirement. Option E is correct because the Cloud Storage service account must be granted the Cloud KMS CryptoKey Encrypter/Decrypter role to be authorized to use the CMEK for encrypting and decrypting objects.
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.