- A
The VPC Service Controls perimeter was configured with an access level that permits certain IP ranges.
Access levels can allow traffic from specific IPs, so if the external IP is in an allowed range, the request succeeds.
- B
The bucket is outside the service perimeter.
Why wrong: If the bucket were outside, it would not be protected, but the scenario states the perimeter is around projects containing the buckets.
- C
The service account is a member of the perimeter.
Why wrong: VPC SC blocks access from outside the perimeter regardless of identity; being a member does not exempt the request from originating outside.
- D
The VPC Service Controls perimeter does not block requests made by service accounts.
Why wrong: VPC SC blocks all requests from outside, including those from service accounts.
Google ACE Configuring access and security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 healthcare company uses GCP to store sensitive patient data in Cloud Storage buckets. Their security policy requires that all data access be logged and that any attempt to access data from outside the corporate network is blocked. They have implemented VPC Service Controls to create a service perimeter around the projects containing the buckets. They have also enabled Data Access audit logs. However, during an audit, they find that a few access attempts from an IP address outside the corporate network succeeded. The logs show that the requests were made using service account credentials. The service account has the storage.objectViewer role on the bucket. The VPC Service Controls perimeter is configured to block all access from outside the perimeter, but the logs show that some requests were allowed. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability 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
The VPC Service Controls perimeter was configured with an access level that permits certain IP ranges.
Option A is correct because VPC Service Controls can be configured with access levels that define allowed client IP ranges. If the access level permits the IP addresses from which the service account requests originated, those requests would be allowed even though they come from outside the corporate network. The logs confirm that the requests used service account credentials, and the storage.objectViewer role grants read access, so the only remaining control that could have been bypassed is the VPC Service Controls perimeter — and an overly permissive access level is the most likely cause.
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.
- ✓
The VPC Service Controls perimeter was configured with an access level that permits certain IP ranges.
Why this is correct
Access levels can allow traffic from specific IPs, so if the external IP is in an allowed range, the request succeeds.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The bucket is outside the service perimeter.
Why it's wrong here
If the bucket were outside, it would not be protected, but the scenario states the perimeter is around projects containing the buckets.
- ✗
The service account is a member of the perimeter.
Why it's wrong here
VPC SC blocks access from outside the perimeter regardless of identity; being a member does not exempt the request from originating outside.
- ✗
The VPC Service Controls perimeter does not block requests made by service accounts.
Why it's wrong here
VPC SC blocks all requests from outside, including those from service accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that VPC Service Controls blocks all traffic from outside the perimeter unconditionally, but the trap here is that access levels can create exceptions that allow specific IP ranges, including non-corporate IPs, to bypass the block.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
If the bucket were outside, it would not be protected, but the scenario states the perimeter is around projects containing the buckets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Service Controls uses context-aware access levels (based on IP ranges, device policies, or other attributes) to define exceptions to the default deny-all behavior. When an access level is attached to a perimeter, requests that match the level are allowed even if they originate from outside the corporate network. This is implemented via the Access Context Manager API, which evaluates the request's source IP against the access level conditions before enforcing the perimeter boundary. In practice, misconfigured access levels are a common source of unintended data exposure.
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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Configuring access and security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Configuring access and security — This question tests Configuring access and security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VPC Service Controls perimeter was configured with an access level that permits certain IP ranges. — Option A is correct because VPC Service Controls can be configured with access levels that define allowed client IP ranges. If the access level permits the IP addresses from which the service account requests originated, those requests would be allowed even though they come from outside the corporate network. The logs confirm that the requests used service account credentials, and the storage.objectViewer role grants read access, so the only remaining control that could have been bypassed is the VPC Service Controls perimeter — and an overly permissive access level is the most likely cause.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This ACE 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 ACE exam.
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