Quick Answer
The answer is VPC Network Peering, specifically using a hub-and-spoke topology. This is correct because when you need to connect VPC networks across different organizations, VPC peering does not support transitive routing—meaning you cannot simply peer all three VPCs in a mesh and expect traffic to flow between spokes. Instead, a hub-and-spoke design allows a central hub VPC to peer explicitly with each spoke VPC, enabling private IP communication between all three networks even when one belongs to a separate organization. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of VPC peering limitations and the necessity of hub-and-spoke architectures for cross-organization connectivity. A common trap is assuming that peering all VPCs directly will work, but remember: VPC peering is non-transitive, so you must route through a hub. Memory tip: “Hub-and-spoke for cross-org poke”—the hub is the only way to make peering transitive across organizations.
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of designing, planning, and prototyping a gcp network. 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.
A company needs to connect three VPC networks in separate projects (two in the same organization, one in a different organization) to each other for private IP communication. Which TWO GCP solutions should they consider? (Choose 2.)
Cloud Interconnect
Why wrong: For on-premises connectivity, not VPC-to-VPC.
VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology
Central VPC peers with all other VPCs, enabling transitive routing.
Shared VPC
Why wrong: Requires all projects to be in the same organization.
VPC Network Peering
Allows direct peering between any two VPCs, cross-organization.
Cloud VPN with dynamic routing
Why wrong: VPN is for on-premises connectivity, not VPC-to-VPC.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology
Option B is correct because a VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology allows a central hub VPC to peer with multiple spoke VPCs, enabling transitive routing between spokes via the hub. This is necessary when VPCs are in different organizations, as VPC peering does not support transitive peering directly, but a hub-and-spoke design with explicit peering between each spoke and the hub can achieve private IP communication across organizations.
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 Interconnect
Why it's wrong here
For on-premises connectivity, not VPC-to-VPC.
VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology
Why this is correct
Central VPC peers with all other VPCs, enabling transitive routing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Shared VPC
Why it's wrong here
Requires all projects to be in the same organization.
VPC Network Peering
Why this is correct
Allows direct peering between any two VPCs, cross-organization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cloud VPN with dynamic routing
Why it's wrong here
VPN is for on-premises connectivity, not VPC-to-VPC.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse VPC Network Peering with Shared VPC, assuming Shared VPC can span organizations, but Shared VPC is strictly limited to projects within the same organization, while VPC peering can cross organizations.
Detailed technical explanation
VPC Network Peering uses the private Google Cloud backbone to route traffic between VPCs without requiring VPN tunnels or gateways, supporting up to 25 peering connections per VPC. In a hub-and-spoke topology, the hub VPC must be explicitly peered with each spoke, and traffic between spokes traverses the hub, but this does not enable transitive peering by default—each spoke must have routes pointing to the hub for inter-spoke communication. A real-world scenario is a multi-organization merger where each org retains its own project but needs private connectivity; a hub VPC in a shared project can peer with all org VPCs, avoiding public internet exposure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network — This question tests Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology — Option B is correct because a VPC Network Peering hub-and-spoke topology allows a central hub VPC to peer with multiple spoke VPCs, enabling transitive routing between spokes via the hub. This is necessary when VPCs are in different organizations, as VPC peering does not support transitive peering directly, but a hub-and-spoke design with explicit peering between each spoke and the hub can achieve private IP communication across organizations.
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 24, 2026
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