- A
The developer needs `roles/compute.instanceAdmin` in addition to `roles/compute.osLogin`.
Why wrong: compute.instanceAdmin manages VM instances (start/stop/configure). SSH access via OS Login only requires osLogin (or osAdminLogin for sudo). instanceAdmin is not needed for SSH.
- B
The VM metadata `enable-oslogin` is not set to `TRUE` at the VM or project level.
OS Login is enabled by setting `enable-oslogin=TRUE` in instance or project metadata. Without this metadata key, OS Login is not active on the VM even if the IAM role is granted.
- C
The developer must generate an SSH key pair and upload the public key to the VM's authorized_keys.
Why wrong: OS Login replaces the manual authorized_keys approach. With OS Login enabled, SSH keys are managed via the user's Google account profile, not authorized_keys.
- D
The developer's account needs `roles/iam.serviceAccountTokenCreator` to authenticate via SSH.
Why wrong: serviceAccountTokenCreator is for impersonating service accounts to generate tokens. It has no role in OS Login SSH authentication.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the VM or project metadata `enable-oslogin` must be explicitly set to `TRUE`. Even when a user is granted `roles/compute.osLogin`, the OS Login agent on the VM will not activate unless this metadata key is present and set to `TRUE` at either the VM or project level; if it is missing or set to `FALSE`, the VM continues to rely on traditional SSH key-based authentication, ignoring IAM permissions entirely. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this is a classic trick: candidates often assume that granting the IAM role alone is sufficient, but the exam tests your understanding that OS Login is a two-part configuration—IAM roles plus metadata enablement. A common trap is forgetting that project-level metadata overrides VM-level metadata, so if the project has `enable-oslogin=FALSE`, setting it to `TRUE` on a single VM will still fail. Memory tip: think "Role + Metadata = Login"—without both, OS Login stays disabled.
Google ACE Configuring access and security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are enabling OS Login for a GCP project to manage SSH access to Compute Engine VMs. A developer cannot SSH to a VM despite having `roles/compute.osLogin` granted. The VM has OS Login enabled. What is the most likely missing configuration?
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 VM metadata `enable-oslogin` is not set to `TRUE` at the VM or project level.
Option B is correct because OS Login requires the VM or project metadata key `enable-oslogin` to be set to `TRUE`. Even if the user has the `roles/compute.osLogin` role, OS Login will not function if this metadata is missing or set to `FALSE`. The metadata enables the OS Login agent on the VM to authenticate users via IAM permissions rather than local SSH keys.
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 developer needs `roles/compute.instanceAdmin` in addition to `roles/compute.osLogin`.
- ✓
The VM metadata `enable-oslogin` is not set to `TRUE` at the VM or project level.
Why this is correct
OS Login is enabled by setting `enable-oslogin=TRUE` in instance or project metadata. Without this metadata key, OS Login is not active on the VM even if the IAM role is granted.
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 developer must generate an SSH key pair and upload the public key to the VM's authorized_keys.
Why it's wrong here
OS Login replaces the manual authorized_keys approach. With OS Login enabled, SSH keys are managed via the user's Google account profile, not authorized_keys.
- ✗
The developer's account needs `roles/iam.serviceAccountTokenCreator` to authenticate via SSH.
Why it's wrong here
serviceAccountTokenCreator is for impersonating service accounts to generate tokens. It has no role in OS Login SSH authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume granting the IAM role `roles/compute.osLogin` is enough, but they overlook the mandatory metadata flag `enable-oslogin=TRUE` that must be set at the project or VM level to activate the OS Login feature.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OS Login works by linking IAM roles to POSIX accounts on the VM via the `google_os_login` PAM module. When `enable-oslogin=TRUE` is set in metadata, the VM's SSH daemon uses the PAM module to call the OS Login API, which checks the user's IAM permissions and creates a temporary local user account. Without this metadata, the VM falls back to traditional SSH key-based authentication, ignoring IAM roles entirely.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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 VM metadata `enable-oslogin` is not set to `TRUE` at the VM or project level. — Option B is correct because OS Login requires the VM or project metadata key `enable-oslogin` to be set to `TRUE`. Even if the user has the `roles/compute.osLogin` role, OS Login will not function if this metadata is missing or set to `FALSE`. The metadata enables the OS Login agent on the VM to authenticate users via IAM permissions rather than local SSH keys.
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 11, 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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