The correct answer is the IAM condition using `iam.serviceAccount == "sa@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com"`. This works because the `iam.serviceAccount` condition key evaluates the service account identity of the requesting principal, not the resource owner; when a Compute Engine instance authenticates with a specific service account, this condition ensures only that exact identity can access the Cloud Storage bucket, effectively scoping permissions to a particular workload. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this tests your understanding of IAM conditions for resource-level access control, often appearing in scenarios where you must differentiate between the `iam.serviceAccount` attribute (which checks the caller’s identity) and the `resource.serviceAccount` attribute (which checks the resource’s attached service account). A common trap is confusing these two attributes or using the principal’s email instead of the service account’s email format. Memory tip: think “IAM condition locks the caller’s hat” — `iam.serviceAccount` checks who is wearing the service account hat when making the request.
Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 wants to ensure that only Compute Engine instances with a specific service account can access a Cloud Storage bucket. Which IAM condition should they use?
Option D is correct because the `iam.serviceAccount` condition attribute in IAM conditions allows you to restrict access based on the service account identity of the caller. When a Compute Engine instance uses a service account, the condition `iam.serviceAccount == "sa@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com"` ensures that only requests authenticated with that specific service account are allowed to access the Cloud Storage bucket. This is the standard IAM condition attribute for matching the service account of the requesting principal.
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 condition 'iam.serviceAccount' matches the service account used by the caller.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the caller's service account (`iam.serviceAccount`) with the resource's service account (`resource.serviceAccount`), leading candidates to pick Option C, which would incorrectly check the service account attached to the Cloud Storage bucket (which does not exist) instead of the requesting instance's identity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAM conditions use the Common Expression Language (CEL) to evaluate attributes. The `iam.serviceAccount` attribute specifically matches the service account email of the authenticated caller, which is distinct from `resource.serviceAccount` that matches the service account attached to the resource being accessed. In practice, this condition is often combined with `resource.name` to further restrict access to specific buckets or objects, ensuring that only a particular service account from a specific Compute Engine instance can read or write data.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PCA question in full detail.
Design for security and compliance — This question tests Design for security and compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Condition: 'iam.serviceAccount == "sa@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com"' — Option D is correct because the `iam.serviceAccount` condition attribute in IAM conditions allows you to restrict access based on the service account identity of the caller. When a Compute Engine instance uses a service account, the condition `iam.serviceAccount == "sa@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com"` ensures that only requests authenticated with that specific service account are allowed to access the Cloud Storage bucket. This is the standard IAM condition attribute for matching the service account of the requesting principal.
What should I do if I get this PCA 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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Question Discussion
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