- A
Use Cloud SQL Proxy on each project's Compute Engine instances.
Why wrong: Cloud SQL Proxy is a client-side tool that requires a public or private IP, but doesn't directly control project-level access.
- B
Configure the Cloud SQL instance with a private IP in a shared VPC and grant IAM roles to the authorized projects.
Private IP and shared VPC provide a secure, internal network path with IAM controls.
- C
Expose the Cloud SQL instance on a public IP and authorize the IP ranges of the projects.
Why wrong: Public IP and authorized networks are less secure and expose the database to the internet.
- D
Set up a Cloud VPN between each project's VPC and the VPC hosting Cloud SQL.
Why wrong: Cloud VPN is more complex and does not leverage the private services access capability.
Google PCA Design and plan a cloud solution architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design and plan a cloud solution architecture. 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.
An organization has multiple Google Cloud projects that need to access a shared Cloud SQL database. The database should only be accessible from authorized projects. What is the most secure way to grant access?
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
Configure the Cloud SQL instance with a private IP in a shared VPC and grant IAM roles to the authorized projects.
Option B is correct because using a private IP in a shared VPC ensures that Cloud SQL is not exposed to the public internet, and IAM roles (e.g., roles/cloudsql.client) allow fine-grained access control at the project level. This approach leverages VPC peering or shared VPC to restrict network access exclusively to authorized projects, eliminating the need for public IPs or complex VPN configurations while maintaining high security.
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.
- ✗
Use Cloud SQL Proxy on each project's Compute Engine instances.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL Proxy is a client-side tool that requires a public or private IP, but doesn't directly control project-level access.
- ✓
Configure the Cloud SQL instance with a private IP in a shared VPC and grant IAM roles to the authorized projects.
Why this is correct
Private IP and shared VPC provide a secure, internal network path with IAM controls.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Expose the Cloud SQL instance on a public IP and authorize the IP ranges of the projects.
Why it's wrong here
Public IP and authorized networks are less secure and expose the database to the internet.
- ✗
Set up a Cloud VPN between each project's VPC and the VPC hosting Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud VPN is more complex and does not leverage the private services access capability.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Cloud SQL Proxy (a secure tunnel tool) with a method for project-level authorization, when in fact it only provides encryption and IAM-based user authentication, not network-level restriction to specific projects.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud SQL with a private IP uses RFC 1918 addresses within a VPC, and when combined with a shared VPC, the host project's VPC is attached to service projects, allowing Cloud SQL to be accessed via internal DNS (e.g., <INSTANCE>.c.<PROJECT>.internal). IAM roles like cloudsql.client grant permission to connect, but the actual network path relies on VPC peering or Shared VPC subnets; the database does not need a public IP, and all traffic stays within Google's network, avoiding internet exposure.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — This question tests Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the Cloud SQL instance with a private IP in a shared VPC and grant IAM roles to the authorized projects. — Option B is correct because using a private IP in a shared VPC ensures that Cloud SQL is not exposed to the public internet, and IAM roles (e.g., roles/cloudsql.client) allow fine-grained access control at the project level. This approach leverages VPC peering or shared VPC to restrict network access exclusively to authorized projects, eliminating the need for public IPs or complex VPN configurations while maintaining high security.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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