The answer is Cloud DLP and Cloud Functions. Cloud DLP provides the native content inspection and de-identification engine, using built-in infoType detectors like `CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER` to automatically detect and redact credit card numbers in Cloud Storage files, while Cloud Functions acts as the serverless, event-driven trigger that invokes the DLP API whenever a new CSV file is uploaded to the bucket. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of combining a detection service with a compute trigger for automated data loss prevention workflows. A common trap is selecting Cloud Data Loss Prevention alone without the event-driven compute layer, or choosing Cloud Run instead of Cloud Functions for a simple event-triggered task. Remember the pairing: DLP inspects and redacts, Functions triggers and orchestrates. A useful memory tip is “DLP for the scan, Functions for the plan.”
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.
An organization is implementing a data loss prevention (DLP) strategy for sensitive data stored in Cloud Storage. They want to automatically detect and redact credit card numbers in CSV files uploaded to a specific bucket. Which TWO Google Cloud services should they combine to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cloud DLP
Cloud DLP (option C) is correct because it provides native content inspection and de-identification (redaction) of sensitive data like credit card numbers using built-in infoType detectors. Cloud Functions (option D) is correct because it can be triggered by Cloud Storage events (e.g., finalize/create) to invoke the DLP API on newly uploaded CSV files, enabling serverless, event-driven processing without managing infrastructure.
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.
✗
Cloud Dataflow
Why it's wrong here
Dataflow is for batch/stream data processing, not event-triggered file redaction.
✗
Cloud Run
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run is for containerized applications; it's not the best fit for simple event-triggered DLP.
✓
Cloud DLP
Why this is correct
Cloud DLP provides inspection and redaction of sensitive data types like credit card numbers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Cloud Functions
Why this is correct
Cloud Functions can be triggered by Cloud Storage events (e.g., finalize) to call DLP API.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is for data warehousing, not file-level DLP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Cloud Dataflow (option A) thinking it is required for large-scale DLP processing, but the question specifies 'uploaded to a specific bucket' which implies per-file, event-driven processing where Cloud Functions is the simpler and correct serverless choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud DLP uses InfoType detectors (e.g., CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER) that match patterns based on Luhn algorithm checksum validation and common formats (e.g., 16-digit numbers with spaces or dashes). Cloud Functions can be configured with a Cloud Storage trigger (event type google.storage.object.finalize) to automatically invoke a function that calls the DLP API's projects.content.inspect and projects.content.deidentify methods, returning redacted content that can be written back to the bucket or to a separate location.
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: Cloud DLP — Cloud DLP (option C) is correct because it provides native content inspection and de-identification (redaction) of sensitive data like credit card numbers using built-in infoType detectors. Cloud Functions (option D) is correct because it can be triggered by Cloud Storage events (e.g., finalize/create) to invoke the DLP API on newly uploaded CSV files, enabling serverless, event-driven processing without managing infrastructure.
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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