GCDL Practice Question: A company's security policy requires that all…
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of a company's security policy requires that all…. 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 company's security policy requires that all cloud-to-cloud communication between services must be encrypted in transit. An auditor asks how Google Cloud handles encryption for network traffic between Google services within its network. What is Google's default approach to encryption in transit within its infrastructure?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Google does not encrypt internal traffic by default; customers must configure TLS for all service-to-service communication
This is factually incorrect. Google encrypts all inter-datacenter and inter-service traffic by default using its Application Layer Transport Security (ALTS) protocol. Customers do not need to configure this.
Distractor review
Encryption in transit is the customer's responsibility for all traffic, including traffic within Google's network
Customers are responsible for encrypting traffic entering and leaving their own applications. Traffic within Google's infrastructure (between Google's own services) is Google's responsibility, and Google handles it by default.
Best answer
Google encrypts all traffic between its data centers and internal services by default, with no customer configuration required
Google uses Application Layer Transport Security (ALTS) to authenticate and encrypt all traffic between Google services and between data centers by default. This is a core Google infrastructure security commitment, not an optional feature customers must enable.
Distractor review
Google only encrypts traffic that crosses the public internet; internal network traffic is unencrypted for performance
This is false. Google encrypts internal network traffic as well. ALTS specifically encrypts traffic that never leaves Google's network, precisely because internal network encryption is considered essential security practice.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related GCDL practice-question pages
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A traditional retailer currently maintains its own data centers, purchasing servers every 3–5 years and paying for facilities, power, and staff regardless of demand. When it migrates its workloads to the public cloud, which change in cost model does it experience?
Question 2
An e-commerce company plans its infrastructure for peak shopping events (e.g., Black Friday) which drive 50× normal traffic. On-premises, they must maintain 50× capacity year-round. In the cloud, they provision 50× capacity only during peak periods. Which cloud characteristic enables this cost optimization?
Question 3
Which term describes the process by which organizations integrate digital technology into all areas of their business, fundamentally changing how they operate and deliver value to customers?
Question 4
When a company moves from maintaining its own data center to using Google Cloud, which operational responsibility does Google assume that the company previously managed?
Question 5
A hospital runs a patient records system that must remain on-premises due to strict regulatory data residency requirements. However, they also want to use cloud-based AI for diagnostic imaging analysis. Which cloud deployment model best describes their architecture?
Question 6
What is virtualization in the context of cloud computing, and why is it fundamental to how cloud providers deliver services?
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Google encrypts all traffic between its data centers and internal services by default, with no customer configuration required — Google encrypts all traffic between its data centers and between its services by default, using protocols like TLS and Application Layer Transport Security (ALTS). This is not something customers need to configure — Google applies it by default as part of securing its infrastructure. Customers additionally control encryption for traffic entering and leaving their own applications.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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.