- A
Assign external IPs to the VMs and use firewall rules.
Why wrong: The requirement states VMs do not have public IP addresses, so this is not an option.
- B
Create a bucket with uniform bucket-level access and grant the `storage.objectViewer` role to `allUsers`.
Why wrong: This would allow public access, not restrict to VMs.
- C
Use a Cloud VPN to connect the VMs to the bucket.
Why wrong: VPN is for on-premises connectivity, not required for VMs in the same VPC.
- D
Enable Private Google Access on the subnet and use VPC Service Controls to limit bucket access to the VPC.
Private Google Access allows VMs without external IPs to access Google APIs; VPC Service Controls further restrict access to the VPC.
Question 178 of 1,000
Cloud Digital Leader Google Cloud Products and Services Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of google cloud products and services. 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.
A security team wants to restrict access to a Cloud Storage bucket so that only Compute Engine VMs in the same VPC network can read objects. The VMs do not have public IP addresses. Which configuration should they use?
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
✓
Enable Private Google Access on the subnet and use VPC Service Controls to limit bucket access to the VPC.
Private Google Access allows VMs without external IPs to access Google APIs and services via the VPC network. Combined with VPC Service Controls and bucket IAM, this ensures only VMs in the VPC can access the bucket.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assign external IPs to the VMs and use firewall rules.
Why it's wrong here
The requirement states VMs do not have public IP addresses, so this is not an option.
- ✗
Create a bucket with uniform bucket-level access and grant the `storage.objectViewer` role to `allUsers`.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow public access, not restrict to VMs.
- ✗
Use a Cloud VPN to connect the VMs to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
VPN is for on-premises connectivity, not required for VMs in the same VPC.
- ✓
Enable Private Google Access on the subnet and use VPC Service Controls to limit bucket access to the VPC.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related GCDL subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Google Cloud Products and Services — This question tests Google Cloud Products and Services — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Private Google Access on the subnet and use VPC Service Controls to limit bucket access to the VPC. — Private Google Access allows VMs without external IPs to access Google APIs and services via the VPC network. Combined with VPC Service Controls and bucket IAM, this ensures only VMs in the VPC can access the bucket.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related GCDL subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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