Google PCA Practice Question: Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of managing and provisioning a solution infrastructure. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 organization uses a Shared VPC to centrally manage network resources. A project that is not the host project needs to create a Cloud SQL instance using a private IP in the Shared VPC. What must be configured?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable the Service Networking API and allocate an IP range for the Cloud SQL instance
For a service project to allocate private IP in a Shared VPC, the Shared VPC host project must grant the service project the 'compute.networkUser' role on the subnetwork. Additionally, the service project needs the Service Networking API enabled and a private service access connection.
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.
✗
Create a VPC peering between the service project and the host project
Why it's wrong here
Shared VPC already allows connectivity; peering is not needed.
✗
Grant the service project the 'compute.networkUser' role on the VPC network
Why it's wrong here
This is necessary but not sufficient; a private service access connection is also required.
✗
Use Cloud NAT to allow the Cloud SQL instance to communicate
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound internet, not private IP allocation.
✓
Enable the Service Networking API and allocate an IP range for the Cloud SQL instance
Why this is correct
Correct. Private services access requires allocating an IP range and establishing a connection.
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 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.
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.
Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure — This question tests Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable the Service Networking API and allocate an IP range for the Cloud SQL instance — For a service project to allocate private IP in a Shared VPC, the Shared VPC host project must grant the service project the 'compute.networkUser' role on the subnetwork. Additionally, the service project needs the Service Networking API enabled and a private service access connection.
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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