Google PCA Designing for Security and Compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of designing 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.
An organization wants to use VPC Service Controls to protect a Cloud Storage bucket and a BigQuery dataset from data exfiltration. They want to allow access from a specific on-premises network via a Cloud VPN. Which TWO components are required? (Choose 2)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A service perimeter that includes the Cloud Storage bucket and BigQuery dataset
VPC Service Controls use access levels (often based on IP address) to allow or deny access. A service perimeter defines the protected resources. Cloud VPN provides the encrypted connection from on-premises. Cloud Interconnect is an alternative but not required. Private Google Access is for VMs in the VPC, not on-premises. VPC firewall rules do not apply to Google Cloud services.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A service perimeter that includes the Cloud Storage bucket and BigQuery dataset
Why this is correct
The service perimeter defines the protected resources.
Cloud VPN is specified; Interconnect is not required.
✗
VPC firewall rules allowing traffic from on-premises
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules do not apply to Google Cloud services like Cloud Storage.
✗
Private Google Access enabled on the VPC subnet
Why it's wrong here
Private Google Access is for VMs, not on-premises.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCA subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Designing for Security and Compliance — This question tests Designing for Security and Compliance — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A service perimeter that includes the Cloud Storage bucket and BigQuery dataset — VPC Service Controls use access levels (often based on IP address) to allow or deny access. A service perimeter defines the protected resources. Cloud VPN provides the encrypted connection from on-premises. Cloud Interconnect is an alternative but not required. Private Google Access is for VMs in the VPC, not on-premises. VPC firewall rules do not apply to Google Cloud services.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCA subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Question Discussion
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