The correct approach is to use Cloud DLP with de-identification and re-identification transforms on the Cloud SQL database. This works because Cloud DLP can directly scan and apply deterministic or reversible transformations—such as format-preserving encryption or tokenization—to credit card numbers stored in Cloud SQL, ensuring DBAs see only obfuscated data while authorized applications can re-identify the original values via the DLP API with minimal code changes. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of data protection at rest and the trade-off between security and application agility; a common trap is choosing a solution that requires rewriting queries or altering the database schema, which violates the “minimal app changes” constraint. Remember the key distinction: de-identification protects data at rest, while re-identification via API preserves existing application logic. Memory tip: think “DLP transforms, not app rewrites.”
Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 e-commerce platform uses Cloud SQL for MySQL to store user profiles and order history. The security team wants to ensure that database administrators (DBAs) cannot view plaintext credit card numbers stored in the database. They also want to minimize application changes. What should they do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Cloud DLP with de-identification and re-identification transforms on the Cloud SQL database.
Cloud DLP can be used to de-identify sensitive data like credit card numbers at rest in Cloud SQL, using deterministic or reversible transformations (e.g., format-preserving encryption or tokenization) that allow re-identification only by authorized applications. This approach minimizes application changes because DLP can scan and transform the data directly in the database, and the application can use re-identification transforms via the DLP API when needed, without modifying existing queries or schema.
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.
✗
Implement column-level encryption using Cloud KMS in the application layer.
Why it's wrong here
This requires significant application changes and does not leverage built-in DLP capabilities.
✗
Grant DBAs the Cloud SQL Viewer role to restrict access to data.
Why it's wrong here
The Viewer role allows viewing data; it does not mask sensitive columns.
✗
Use Cloud SQL Proxy to encrypt connections and limit DBA access.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL Proxy provides encrypted connections but does not mask data from DBAs.
✓
Use Cloud DLP with de-identification and re-identification transforms on the Cloud SQL database.
Why this is correct
Cloud DLP can automatically detect and tokenize sensitive data, with re-identification for authorized apps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Cloud DLP's de-identification capabilities with simple encryption or access control, assuming that encrypting connections (Cloud SQL Proxy) or restricting IAM roles (Cloud SQL Viewer) protects data at rest from privileged users.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud DLP supports de-identification techniques like format-preserving encryption (FPE) and cryptographic tokenization, which can be applied to Cloud SQL columns using DLP jobs or API calls. The re-identification process uses a wrapped key in Cloud KMS, ensuring that only authorized applications with access to the key can reverse the transformation. In a real-world scenario, a payment processing microservice would call the DLP re-identification API to retrieve the original credit card number for a transaction, while DBAs see only tokenized or encrypted values.
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.
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: Use Cloud DLP with de-identification and re-identification transforms on the Cloud SQL database. — Cloud DLP can be used to de-identify sensitive data like credit card numbers at rest in Cloud SQL, using deterministic or reversible transformations (e.g., format-preserving encryption or tokenization) that allow re-identification only by authorized applications. This approach minimizes application changes because DLP can scan and transform the data directly in the database, and the application can use re-identification transforms via the DLP API when needed, without modifying existing queries or schema.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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