- A
Enable Key Access Justifications on the Cloud KMS key and allow access only for justified requests.
Why wrong: Key Access Justifications provide reasons for key access but do not restrict object access based on encryption key.
- B
Set a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK.
Why wrong: Bucket policies cannot directly check the encryption key used for each object.
- C
Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'.
IAM conditions can check object metadata such as 'kmsKeyName' to restrict access to objects encrypted with a specific key.
- D
Configure VPC Service Controls to include the bucket and the Cloud KMS key resource.
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration but do not enforce encryption at the object level.
Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. 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 wants to restrict access to a Cloud Storage bucket so that only objects encrypted with a specific Cloud KMS key can be read. Which approach 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
Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'.
Option D is correct because Cloud Storage Object has a 'kmsKeyName' condition that can be used in IAM conditions to require objects to be encrypted with a specific KMS key. Option A is wrong because VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration but do not enforce encryption at the object level. Option B is wrong because bucket policies do not directly examine encryption key metadata. Option C is wrong because Key Access Justifications only provide reasons for key access but do not restrict object access based on encryption key.
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 Key Access Justifications on the Cloud KMS key and allow access only for justified requests.
Why it's wrong here
Key Access Justifications provide reasons for key access but do not restrict object access based on encryption key.
- ✗
Set a bucket policy that denies access if the object's encryption type is not CMEK.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies cannot directly check the encryption key used for each object.
- ✓
Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'.
Why this is correct
IAM conditions can check object metadata such as 'kmsKeyName' to restrict access to objects encrypted with a specific key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure VPC Service Controls to include the bucket and the Cloud KMS key resource.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration but do not enforce encryption at the object level.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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 PCA 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.
- →
Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
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: Use IAM conditions with the resource name condition 'resource.name.startsWith("projects/_/buckets/example-bucket/objects/")' and 'resource.hasTag("kmsKeyName", "projects/p/locations/l/keyRings/kr/cryptoKeys/ck")'. — Option D is correct because Cloud Storage Object has a 'kmsKeyName' condition that can be used in IAM conditions to require objects to be encrypted with a specific KMS key. Option A is wrong because VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration but do not enforce encryption at the object level. Option B is wrong because bucket policies do not directly examine encryption key metadata. Option C is wrong because Key Access Justifications only provide reasons for key access but do not restrict object access based on encryption key.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Identify which PCA 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCA 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 PCA exam.
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