- A
Cloud Monitoring — use the metric explorer to list all VM instances
Why wrong: Cloud Monitoring tracks metrics (CPU, memory) — it doesn't provide a resource inventory query interface across projects.
- B
Cloud Asset Inventory with an organization-scoped asset search
`gcloud asset search-all-resources --scope=organizations/[ORG_ID] --asset-types=compute.googleapis.com/Instance` returns all VMs across all projects in the organization.
- C
Cloud Resource Manager — list all projects and then query each for VMs
Why wrong: Resource Manager manages projects but doesn't provide cross-project resource inventory — querying each project individually is exactly what Asset Inventory avoids.
- D
BigQuery information_schema views for GCP compute resources
Why wrong: BigQuery information_schema contains metadata about BigQuery datasets — not GCP Compute Engine instances.
Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud Asset Inventory with an organization-scoped asset search. This service is the correct choice because it provides a unified, organization-wide view of all resources, allowing you to list all Compute Engine instances across projects without needing to log into each project individually. By running an organization-scoped query for asset_type = "compute.googleapis.com/Instance", you can retrieve instance names, zones, and status in a single API call or gcloud command. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of cross-project resource discovery versus project-specific tools like the Compute Engine API or gcloud compute instances list, which require individual project context. A common trap is choosing Cloud Monitoring or Cloud Logging, but those are for metrics and logs, not inventory. Memory tip: think "Cloud Asset Inventory = one search to rule all projects."
Google ACE Setting up a cloud solution environment Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of setting up a cloud solution environment. 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 security team needs an inventory of all Compute Engine VM instances across all projects in their GCP organization, including instance names, zones, and status, without logging into each project individually. Which service provides this?
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
Cloud Asset Inventory with an organization-scoped asset search
Cloud Asset Inventory provides a unified, organization-scoped view of all resources across projects, including Compute Engine VM instances. By using an organization-scoped asset search, the security team can query for all VM instances (e.g., `asset_type = "compute.googleapis.com/Instance"`) without needing to log into each project individually. This service is purpose-built for cross-project resource discovery and inventory management.
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.
- ✗
Cloud Monitoring — use the metric explorer to list all VM instances
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Monitoring tracks metrics (CPU, memory) — it doesn't provide a resource inventory query interface across projects.
- ✓
Cloud Asset Inventory with an organization-scoped asset search
Why this is correct
`gcloud asset search-all-resources --scope=organizations/[ORG_ID] --asset-types=compute.googleapis.com/Instance` returns all VMs across all projects in the organization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud Resource Manager — list all projects and then query each for VMs
Why it's wrong here
Resource Manager manages projects but doesn't provide cross-project resource inventory — querying each project individually is exactly what Asset Inventory avoids.
- ✗
BigQuery information_schema views for GCP compute resources
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery information_schema contains metadata about BigQuery datasets — not GCP Compute Engine instances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Cloud Monitoring's metric explorer with an inventory tool, or assume Cloud Resource Manager can directly query resources across projects, when in fact it only manages project metadata and IAM policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Asset Inventory uses the Asset Inventory API to export or search assets across the entire organization, folder, or project hierarchy. It supports real-time and historical asset snapshots, and can filter by asset type, resource location, and custom labels. In a real-world scenario, a security team might use `gcloud asset search-all-resources --scope=organizations/ORG_ID --asset-types=compute.googleapis.com/Instance` to instantly retrieve all VM instances, including those in deleted or suspended projects, which is impossible with per-project API calls.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Setting up a cloud solution environment — This question tests Setting up a cloud solution environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Asset Inventory with an organization-scoped asset search — Cloud Asset Inventory provides a unified, organization-scoped view of all resources across projects, including Compute Engine VM instances. By using an organization-scoped asset search, the security team can query for all VM instances (e.g., `asset_type = "compute.googleapis.com/Instance"`) without needing to log into each project individually. This service is purpose-built for cross-project resource discovery and inventory management.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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