- A
Create a GCP service account for the vendor and share the JSON key file with 48-hour expiry
Why wrong: Service account JSON keys are long-lived (they don't expire in 48 hours by default) — signed URLs are the correct tool for time-limited, credential-free access.
- B
Generate a Signed URL for the specific objects with a 48-hour expiration
Signed URLs provide time-limited, cryptographically secured access to specific objects — no GCP account required. Access automatically expires after 48 hours.
- C
Use Workload Identity Federation with AWS as the identity provider for the vendor
Why wrong: Workload Identity Federation is for application workloads that need ongoing GCP access — not for temporary, one-time object access by a vendor.
- D
Make the objects publicly readable and share the direct Cloud Storage URL
Why wrong: Public access removes all access controls — any person with the URL can access the objects without expiry. Signed URLs provide the required time-limited access.
Quick Answer
The answer is to generate a Signed URL for the specific objects with a 48-hour expiration. This is the most secure method because a Signed URL embeds authentication directly into the URL, granting temporary read-only access to a specific Cloud Storage object without requiring the vendor to have a Google account or exposing your broader bucket permissions. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of access control mechanisms, specifically the difference between Signed URLs (for object-level, time-bound access) and pre-signed URLs in AWS, which is a common trap—candidates often confuse cloud providers or suggest creating a service account, which would expose long-lived credentials. The key concept is that Signed URLs are ideal for cross-cloud or external access because they expire automatically, eliminating the need to manage keys for the vendor. Memory tip: think "Signed URL = Signed, Sealed, Delivered"—the URL is signed with your key, sealed with an expiration, and delivered to the vendor for temporary use.
Google ACE Configuring access and security Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access and security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 team needs to give a third-party vendor read-only access to specific Cloud Storage objects for 48 hours. The vendor uses an AWS account (not a Google account). What is the most secure way to grant this temporary access?
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
Generate a Signed URL for the specific objects with a 48-hour expiration
Option B is correct because a Signed URL provides time-bound, read-only access to specific Cloud Storage objects without requiring the vendor to have a Google account. The URL embeds authentication information and expires after 48 hours, ensuring temporary access while maintaining security by not exposing broader permissions or credentials.
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.
- ✗
Create a GCP service account for the vendor and share the JSON key file with 48-hour expiry
Why it's wrong here
Service account JSON keys are long-lived (they don't expire in 48 hours by default) — signed URLs are the correct tool for time-limited, credential-free access.
- ✓
Generate a Signed URL for the specific objects with a 48-hour expiration
Why this is correct
Signed URLs provide time-limited, cryptographically secured access to specific objects — no GCP account required. Access automatically expires after 48 hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Workload Identity Federation with AWS as the identity provider for the vendor
Why it's wrong here
Workload Identity Federation is for application workloads that need ongoing GCP access — not for temporary, one-time object access by a vendor.
- ✗
Make the objects publicly readable and share the direct Cloud Storage URL
Why it's wrong here
Public access removes all access controls — any person with the URL can access the objects without expiry. Signed URLs provide the required time-limited access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that sharing a service account key file is acceptable for temporary access, but the trap here is that Signed URLs are the only option that combines time-bound, object-specific, and credential-free access for external users without a Google account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A Signed URL uses a cryptographic signature generated with the service account's private key (via HMAC-SHA256) to create a query parameter string that includes expiration time, HTTP method, and object path. The URL is valid only until the specified expiration, and access is enforced at the object level by Cloud Storage's authentication layer, which verifies the signature against the key's public counterpart. In real-world scenarios, this is ideal for sharing large files like backups or logs with external partners without managing additional identities.
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: Generate a Signed URL for the specific objects with a 48-hour expiration — Option B is correct because a Signed URL provides time-bound, read-only access to specific Cloud Storage objects without requiring the vendor to have a Google account. The URL embeds authentication information and expires after 48 hours, ensuring temporary access while maintaining security by not exposing broader permissions or credentials.
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 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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