- A
Use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and store the key in a Secret Manager accessible only from the on-premises HSM.
Why wrong: CSEK keys are supplied by the customer per request, not managed by an external HSM.
- B
Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
EKM allows you to use an external key management partner, including on-premises HSMs, to wrap the Google-managed encryption key.
- C
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) with a Cloud KMS key that is generated from the on-premises HSM.
Why wrong: CMEK keys are generated and stored in Cloud KMS, not directly using an external HSM.
- D
Encrypt each object client-side with a key from the on-premises HSM before uploading to Cloud Storage.
Why wrong: This would block server-side features like object metadata and versioning, and is not integrated.
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 healthcare organization is storing sensitive patient data in Cloud Storage. They need to ensure that all objects are encrypted with a key managed by their on-premises HSM. Which encryption 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 Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
Option D is correct because Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) allows you to use an external key management system (like on-premises HSM) to wrap a Google-managed key. The data is encrypted with a Google-managed key, which is then encrypted with the external key. Option A is wrong because CSEK is deprecated and does not support on-premises key rotation. Option B is wrong because CMEK uses Cloud KMS, not an external HSM directly. Option C is wrong because CSEK requires supplying the key with each request, not managed by an HSM.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) and store the key in a Secret Manager accessible only from the on-premises HSM.
Why it's wrong here
CSEK keys are supplied by the customer per request, not managed by an external HSM.
- ✓
Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM.
Why this is correct
EKM allows you to use an external key management partner, including on-premises HSMs, to wrap the Google-managed encryption key.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) with a Cloud KMS key that is generated from the on-premises HSM.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK keys are generated and stored in Cloud KMS, not directly using an external HSM.
- ✗
Encrypt each object client-side with a key from the on-premises HSM before uploading to Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
This would block server-side features like object metadata and versioning, and is not integrated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) with a key hosted on the on-premises HSM. — Option D is correct because Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) allows you to use an external key management system (like on-premises HSM) to wrap a Google-managed key. The data is encrypted with a Google-managed key, which is then encrypted with the external key. Option A is wrong because CSEK is deprecated and does not support on-premises key rotation. Option B is wrong because CMEK uses Cloud KMS, not an external HSM directly. Option C is wrong because CSEK requires supplying the key with each request, not managed by an HSM.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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