- A
Enable a public IP on the Cloud SQL instance and restrict access using Cloud SQL authorized networks.
Why wrong: This defeats the requirement to avoid public IP exposure; authorized networks still allow connections over the public internet.
- B
Configure a Serverless VPC Access connector and attach it to the Cloud Function to access Cloud SQL via private IP.
Serverless VPC Access lets Cloud Functions reach VPC resources over private RFC 1918 addresses. The Cloud SQL instance stays private-IP-only, meeting the isolation requirement.
- C
Use Cloud SQL Auth Proxy on a Compute Engine VM as a jump host between the function and the database.
Why wrong: A jump host VM adds operational complexity and a persistent resource. Serverless VPC Access is the purpose-built, simpler solution.
- D
Deploy the Cloud Function in the same project as Cloud SQL; same-project resources can access each other privately by default.
Why wrong: Being in the same project does not grant network-level access. Cloud Functions run in a managed execution environment outside the project VPC by default.
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to configure a Serverless VPC Access connector and attach it to the Cloud Function, enabling private IP access to Cloud SQL. This works because the connector bridges the serverless environment to your VPC, allowing the Cloud Function to reach the Cloud SQL instance over its private IP without requiring a public IP on the database. The Cloud Function remains publicly triggerable via HTTP, but all traffic to Cloud SQL stays within Google’s internal network, satisfying the security requirement. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how serverless services interact with VPC resources; a common trap is assuming a Cloud SQL proxy or public IP is needed, but the connector handles private routing directly. Remember the key: Serverless VPC Access is the bridge for private database calls from public-triggered functions. A useful mnemonic is “Connector for Connectorless”—when your function has no VPC, the connector provides the private link.
Google ACE Planning and configuring a cloud solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of planning and configuring a cloud solution. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 need to design a solution where a Cloud Function is triggered by HTTP requests from the internet, but it must also privately access a Cloud SQL instance that has no public IP. The Cloud Function should not expose the Cloud SQL instance to public traffic. Which configuration enables 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
Configure a Serverless VPC Access connector and attach it to the Cloud Function to access Cloud SQL via private IP.
Option B is correct because a Serverless VPC Access connector allows a Cloud Function to connect to a Cloud SQL instance via its private IP, enabling private network communication without exposing the database to the internet. The connector bridges the serverless environment to a VPC, and the Cloud SQL instance must have private IP enabled. This satisfies the requirement of private access while the function itself remains publicly triggerable via HTTP.
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.
- ✗
Enable a public IP on the Cloud SQL instance and restrict access using Cloud SQL authorized networks.
Why it's wrong here
This defeats the requirement to avoid public IP exposure; authorized networks still allow connections over the public internet.
- ✓
Configure a Serverless VPC Access connector and attach it to the Cloud Function to access Cloud SQL via private IP.
Why this is correct
Serverless VPC Access lets Cloud Functions reach VPC resources over private RFC 1918 addresses. The Cloud SQL instance stays private-IP-only, meeting the isolation requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud SQL Auth Proxy on a Compute Engine VM as a jump host between the function and the database.
Why it's wrong here
A jump host VM adds operational complexity and a persistent resource. Serverless VPC Access is the purpose-built, simpler solution.
- ✗
Deploy the Cloud Function in the same project as Cloud SQL; same-project resources can access each other privately by default.
Why it's wrong here
Being in the same project does not grant network-level access. Cloud Functions run in a managed execution environment outside the project VPC by default.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that resources in the same project can communicate privately by default, but the trap here is that Cloud Functions run outside your VPC and require explicit configuration (like a VPC connector) to access private IP resources such as Cloud SQL.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Serverless VPC Access connector uses a managed proxy that routes traffic from the Cloud Function’s serverless environment into your VPC via an internal IP address. The connector must be provisioned in the same VPC as the Cloud SQL instance, and the Cloud Function must be configured with the connector and egress settings set to 'all' or 'private-ranges-only' to ensure traffic to the Cloud SQL private IP is routed through the VPC. Under the hood, the connector uses a set of managed Compute Engine instances with IP forwarding and routing tables to encapsulate and forward traffic, enabling private connectivity without public IPs.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Planning and configuring a cloud solution — This question tests Planning and configuring a cloud solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a Serverless VPC Access connector and attach it to the Cloud Function to access Cloud SQL via private IP. — Option B is correct because a Serverless VPC Access connector allows a Cloud Function to connect to a Cloud SQL instance via its private IP, enabling private network communication without exposing the database to the internet. The connector bridges the serverless environment to a VPC, and the Cloud SQL instance must have private IP enabled. This satisfies the requirement of private access while the function itself remains publicly triggerable via HTTP.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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