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Design for security and compliance →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Google PCA Design for security and compliance Practice Question

This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design for security and compliance. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.

Cloud Audit Log entry:
```json
{
  "protoPayload": {
    "methodName": "v1.compute.firewalls.insert",
    "resourceName": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls/allow-ssh",
    "authenticationInfo": {
      "principalEmail": "admin@example.com"
    },
    "authorizationInfo": [
      {
        "permission": "compute.firewalls.create",
        "granted": false,
        "resourceAttributes": {
          "name": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls"
        }
      }
    ],
    "status": {
      "code": 7,
      "message": "Permission denied"
    }
  }
}
```

The firewall rule 'allow-ssh' was not created. According to the audit log, what is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Cloud Audit Log entry:
```json
{
  "protoPayload": {
    "methodName": "v1.compute.firewalls.insert",
    "resourceName": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls/allow-ssh",
    "authenticationInfo": {
      "principalEmail": "admin@example.com"
    },
    "authorizationInfo": [
      {
        "permission": "compute.firewalls.create",
        "granted": false,
        "resourceAttributes": {
          "name": "projects/my-project/global/firewalls"
        }
      }
    ],
    "status": {
      "code": 7,
      "message": "Permission denied"
    }
  }
}
```

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

✓

The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission.

The authorizationInfo indicates that the permission compute.firewalls.create was granted false, meaning the user lacked that permission. Option A is incorrect because the log shows admin@example.com. Option C is incorrect because the firewall already exists? The log says insert, and status is permission denied. Option D is incorrect because the specific permission is denied.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✗

    The user is not authenticated.

    Why it's wrong here

    The log shows authenticationInfo with principalEmail.

  • ✗

    The user has the compute.securityAdmin role but not compute.firewalls.create.

    Why it's wrong here

    compute.securityAdmin does not include create permission.

  • ✓

    The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission.

    Why this is correct

    AuthorizationInfo shows granted: false for that permission.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

  • ✗

    The firewall rule already exists and cannot be duplicated.

    Why it's wrong here

    The log shows a permission denied, not a conflict error.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    The log shows authenticationInfo with principalEmail.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

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.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related PCA questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCA question test?

Design for security and compliance — This question tests Design for security and compliance — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The user does not have the compute.firewalls.create permission. — The authorizationInfo indicates that the permission compute.firewalls.create was granted false, meaning the user lacked that permission. Option A is incorrect because the log shows admin@example.com. Option C is incorrect because the firewall already exists? The log says insert, and status is permission denied. Option D is incorrect because the specific permission is denied.

What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related PCA questions on access control and AAA configuration.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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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.