- A
Delete the Cloud KMS key after data is loaded to BigQuery
Why wrong: Deleting the key would render data inaccessible.
- B
Enable CMEK on the Cloud Storage bucket by specifying the KMS key
You can set a default KMS key for a bucket.
- C
Configure the BigQuery dataset to use a CMEK key
BigQuery datasets can have a default CMEK for tables.
- D
Use Google-managed encryption keys
Why wrong: Not CMEK; they want customer-managed keys.
- E
Create a key ring and key in Cloud Key Management Service
CMEK uses keys from Cloud KMS.
Question 851 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to build a reporting pipeline where data is collected from IoT devices, stored raw in Cloud Storage, and then processed into BigQuery for analytics. They need to ensure data is encrypted at rest using customer-managed keys. Which THREE steps should they take? (Choose 3 correct options)
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
✓
Enable CMEK on the Cloud Storage bucket by specifying the KMS key
Option B is correct because enabling CMEK on a Cloud Storage bucket by specifying a KMS key ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are encrypted at rest using a customer-managed key, which meets the requirement for customer-managed encryption. This is done by setting the bucket's default encryption to use a specific Cloud KMS key, and any object uploaded without its own encryption key will inherit this setting.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Delete the Cloud KMS key after data is loaded to BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the key would render data inaccessible.
- ✓
Enable CMEK on the Cloud Storage bucket by specifying the KMS key
Why this is correct
You can set a default KMS key for a bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure the BigQuery dataset to use a CMEK key
Why this is correct
BigQuery datasets can have a default CMEK for tables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Google-managed encryption keys
Why it's wrong here
Not CMEK; they want customer-managed keys.
- ✓
Create a key ring and key in Cloud Key Management Service
Why this is correct
CMEK uses keys from Cloud KMS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is thinking that only one component needs CMEK enabled, but for this data pipeline, both Cloud Storage and BigQuery must be configured to use the same customer-managed key. Another trap is selecting 'Delete the Cloud KMS key after data is loaded' (option A), which is incorrect because it would make data unrecoverable and non-compliant.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CMEK in Cloud Storage uses envelope encryption: the KMS key (key encryption key) wraps a data encryption key (DEK) that encrypts the object. For BigQuery, CMEK is configured at the dataset level, and all tables, partitions, and snapshots within that dataset are encrypted with the specified KMS key. A subtle behavior is that if the KMS key is disabled or destroyed, BigQuery queries and Cloud Storage reads will fail with a 'KMS key not found' error, even if the data is still physically present.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Storing the Data — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Storing the Data — This question tests Storing the Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable CMEK on the Cloud Storage bucket by specifying the KMS key — Option B is correct because enabling CMEK on a Cloud Storage bucket by specifying a KMS key ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are encrypted at rest using a customer-managed key, which meets the requirement for customer-managed encryption. This is done by setting the bucket's default encryption to use a specific Cloud KMS key, and any object uploaded without its own encryption key will inherit this setting.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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