- A
Enable CMEK on the existing resources by modifying the resource's encryption settings. This will automatically re-encrypt the data.
Why wrong: CMEK does not automatically re-encrypt existing data for most services.
- B
Delete the existing resources and recreate them with CMEK enabled. Then restore data from backups.
Why wrong: Deleting production resources risks data loss and downtime.
- C
Enable Data Loss Prevention (DLP) API to scan and re-encrypt data automatically.
Why wrong: DLP is for data classification, not re-encryption.
- D
For Compute Engine: create new disks with CMEK, attach them, and copy data. For Cloud Storage: rewrite objects with CMEK. For BigQuery: copy datasets to new datasets with CMEK.
This correctly re-encrypts existing data for each service.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to create new resources with CMEK enabled and migrate the data, because CMEK is applied at resource creation and cannot be retroactively assigned to existing disks, buckets, or datasets. This stems from how Google Cloud’s encryption model works: the key is bound to the resource at the moment of creation, and Google-managed keys are immutable for that resource’s lifetime. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding that CMEK is not a toggle you flip—it requires a deliberate migration strategy for each service. A common trap is assuming you can simply update the key on an existing disk or bucket, but the exam expects you to know the specific re-encryption steps: for Compute Engine, create new CMEK disks and copy data; for Cloud Storage, rewrite objects using the CMEK-enabled bucket or API; for BigQuery, copy datasets to new CMEK datasets. Memory tip: “Create, copy, replace—CMEK can’t be applied in place.”
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.
Your company has a production environment on Google Cloud that includes Compute Engine instances, Cloud Storage buckets, and BigQuery datasets. Security policies require that all data at rest is encrypted with CMEK, and audit logs must be retained for 7 years. The current configuration uses Google-managed encryption keys. You have been asked to transition to CMEK for all resources. After enabling CMEK for new resources, you discover that the existing resources are not re-encrypted. To comply with the policy, you need to re-encrypt the existing data. What should you do?
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
For Compute Engine: create new disks with CMEK, attach them, and copy data. For Cloud Storage: rewrite objects with CMEK. For BigQuery: copy datasets to new datasets with CMEK.
Option D is correct because CMEK is applied at the resource creation level for Compute Engine disks, Cloud Storage buckets, and BigQuery datasets. Existing resources encrypted with Google-managed keys cannot be re-encrypted in place; you must create new resources with CMEK enabled and migrate the data. For Compute Engine, this means creating new disks with CMEK, attaching them, and copying data. For Cloud Storage, you rewrite objects to a new bucket or use the rewrite API with CMEK. For BigQuery, you copy datasets to new datasets that have CMEK configured.
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.
- ✗
Enable CMEK on the existing resources by modifying the resource's encryption settings. This will automatically re-encrypt the data.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK does not automatically re-encrypt existing data for most services.
- ✗
Delete the existing resources and recreate them with CMEK enabled. Then restore data from backups.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting production resources risks data loss and downtime.
- ✗
Enable Data Loss Prevention (DLP) API to scan and re-encrypt data automatically.
Why it's wrong here
DLP is for data classification, not re-encryption.
- ✓
For Compute Engine: create new disks with CMEK, attach them, and copy data. For Cloud Storage: rewrite objects with CMEK. For BigQuery: copy datasets to new datasets with CMEK.
Why this is correct
This correctly re-encrypts existing data for each service.
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 you can simply toggle encryption settings on existing resources to apply CMEK, when in reality CMEK must be configured at creation time and data must be migrated to new resources.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CMEK uses Cloud KMS to manage encryption keys, and the key is bound to the resource at creation time via a customer-managed key version. For Cloud Storage, the rewrite operation (via the XML or JSON API) can specify a new encryption key, effectively re-encrypting the object. For BigQuery, copying a dataset to a new dataset with CMEK triggers a full re-encryption of the data, as BigQuery stores data in a columnar format that is encrypted per table. Compute Engine persistent disks are encrypted at the block level, so creating a new disk with CMEK and using rsync or dd to copy data ensures the new disk uses the customer-managed key.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Design for security and compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: For Compute Engine: create new disks with CMEK, attach them, and copy data. For Cloud Storage: rewrite objects with CMEK. For BigQuery: copy datasets to new datasets with CMEK. — Option D is correct because CMEK is applied at the resource creation level for Compute Engine disks, Cloud Storage buckets, and BigQuery datasets. Existing resources encrypted with Google-managed keys cannot be re-encrypted in place; you must create new resources with CMEK enabled and migrate the data. For Compute Engine, this means creating new disks with CMEK, attaching them, and copying data. For Cloud Storage, you rewrite objects to a new bucket or use the rewrite API with CMEK. For BigQuery, you copy datasets to new datasets that have CMEK configured.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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