The answer is that only user@example.com can be granted an IAM role on a project in this organization. This is because the IAM allowed policy member domains constraint restricts role grants to members from explicitly listed domains, and user@example.com belongs to the allowed domain 'example.com'. The constraint is designed to prevent privilege escalation by limiting cross-domain access, and it automatically excludes service accounts from the restriction since they are managed by Google and implicitly allowed under the 'gserviceaccount.com' domain. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this topic tests your understanding of organization policies and how they interact with IAM role assignments—a common trap is assuming all domains must be listed, when in fact service accounts are always exempt. Remember the memory tip: "Domains restrict users, but Google accounts are always welcome."
Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```yaml
# organization_policy.yaml
constraint: constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains
listPolicy:
allowedValues:
- C0xxxxxxx # Google Cloud organization ID
- A1b2C3d4E5f6G7h8I9j0K1l2M3n4O5p6 # Cloud Identity domain: example.com
```
An organization has set the IAM policy constraint 'constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains' with the values shown. Which of the following users can be granted an IAM role on a project in this organization?
The constraint 'constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains' restricts IAM role grants to members from specified domains. The value 'gserviceaccount.com' is implicitly allowed for service accounts because they are managed by Google and are not subject to domain restrictions. Therefore, service-account@project-id.iam.gserviceaccount.com can be granted an IAM role on a project in this organization.
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.
Service accounts within the organization are allowed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
external@otherdomain.com
Why it's wrong here
External domain not allowed.
✗
admin@another-customer-domain.com
Why it's wrong here
Domain not in allowed list.
✓
user@example.com
Why this is correct
The constraint allows members from the example.com domain.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that all service accounts are exempt from domain restrictions, but only Google-managed service accounts (those ending in 'gserviceaccount.com') are exempt; customer-managed service accounts from other domains are still subject to the constraint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains' is a list constraint that can be set at the organization or folder level. It uses a deny-by-default model: only domains explicitly listed (plus 'gserviceaccount.com' for service accounts) are permitted. This constraint is enforced at the time of IAM policy binding, not during authentication, and it applies to all member types including users, groups, and service accounts, with the noted exception for Google-managed service accounts.
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: service-account@project-id.iam.gserviceaccount.com — The constraint 'constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains' restricts IAM role grants to members from specified domains. The value 'gserviceaccount.com' is implicitly allowed for service accounts because they are managed by Google and are not subject to domain restrictions. Therefore, service-account@project-id.iam.gserviceaccount.com can be granted an IAM role on a project in this organization.
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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