Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud NAT, the correct choice because it enables outbound internet access from private Compute Engine instances without public IP addresses by performing source network address translation, mapping their private IPs to a shared public IP managed by Google Cloud. This allows secure outbound connections for tasks like software updates while preventing any unsolicited inbound traffic, directly addressing the need for controlled internet egress. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of NAT versus alternative solutions like Cloud Router with custom routes or a NAT gateway instance, with a common trap being to select a VPN or proxy instead. Remember, Cloud NAT is stateless for outbound flows and stateful for return traffic, so think “outbound only, no inbound allowed.” A helpful memory tip: “Cloud NAT lets privates go out, but keeps the front door shut.”
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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.
A company is running workloads on Compute Engine instances without public IP addresses. They need to allow these instances to securely access the internet for software updates. Which Google Cloud service should be configured?
Cloud VPN
Why wrong: Cloud VPN is for connecting on-premises networks to Google Cloud, not for internet access.
Private Google Access
Why wrong: Private Google Access only allows access to Google APIs, not general internet.
Cloud NAT
Cloud NAT enables outbound internet traffic from instances without public IPs.
VPC Peering
Why wrong: VPC peering connects two VPCs, not for internet access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cloud NAT
Cloud NAT (Network Address Translation) allows Compute Engine instances without public IP addresses to initiate outbound connections to the internet for tasks like software updates. It translates the private IP addresses of the instances to a public IP address managed by Google Cloud, enabling secure outbound internet access without exposing the instances to inbound traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud VPN
Why it's wrong here
Cloud VPN is for connecting on-premises networks to Google Cloud, not for internet access.
Private Google Access
Why it's wrong here
Private Google Access only allows access to Google APIs, not general internet.
Cloud NAT
VPC Peering
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering connects two VPCs, not for internet access.
Common exam traps
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between Private Google Access (which only reaches Google APIs) and Cloud NAT (which provides full internet access), causing candidates to confuse the two when the requirement is for general internet connectivity like software updates.
Detailed technical explanation
Cloud NAT uses source network address translation (SNAT) to map private IPs to a pool of public IPs, with support for static or dynamic port allocation. Under the hood, it leverages Google's Andromeda software-defined networking stack to scale transparently across thousands of instances. A subtle behavior is that Cloud NAT does not support inbound connections unless a firewall rule explicitly allows them, and it requires a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the internet gateway in the VPC.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cloud NAT — Cloud NAT (Network Address Translation) allows Compute Engine instances without public IP addresses to initiate outbound connections to the internet for tasks like software updates. It translates the private IP addresses of the instances to a public IP address managed by Google Cloud, enabling secure outbound internet access without exposing the instances to inbound traffic.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCNE 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 PCNE exam.
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