Quick Answer
The answer is that Google Cloud automatically encrypts all traffic between VMs by default, making any additional configuration unnecessary. This default encryption between GCP VMs operates at the hypervisor level, applying both application-layer encryption like TLS and network-layer encryption like IPSec to every packet, regardless of whether the VMs are in the same zone, different regions, or across VPCs. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this concept tests your understanding of GCP’s built-in security posture—many candidates mistakenly think inter-region traffic requires a VPN or dedicated interconnect, but the key insight is that Google’s infrastructure encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic transparently and always-on. A common trap is assuming encryption only applies within a region, so remember: inter-region traffic is also encrypted by default. Memory tip: think “hypervisor-level, zero-config, always-on” to recall that GCP handles encryption for you without any manual setup.
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of designing, planning, and prototyping a gcp network. 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 needs to ensure that all traffic between GCP VMs in different regions is encrypted in transit. What is the recommended approach?
Use VPC peering with encryption enabled
Why wrong: VPC peering does not have an encryption toggle; encryption is default.
By default, traffic between GCP VMs is encrypted
Google encrypts all inter-region traffic at the physical layer.
Use Cloud VPN between the two regions
Why wrong: Unnecessary as inter-region traffic is already encrypted.
Enable IPsec on the VPC
Why wrong: IPsec is not a VPC-wide feature; it's used for VPN connections.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
By default, traffic between GCP VMs is encrypted
Google Cloud encrypts all traffic between VMs at the hypervisor level, regardless of region, using application-layer encryption (e.g., TLS) and network-layer encryption (e.g., IPSec) by default. This encryption is transparent, always-on, and does not require any configuration, making option B the correct answer. The encryption covers all VM-to-VM traffic within the same VPC or across VPCs, including inter-region communication.
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.
Use VPC peering with encryption enabled
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not have an encryption toggle; encryption is default.
By default, traffic between GCP VMs is encrypted
Why this is correct
Google encrypts all inter-region traffic at the physical layer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Use Cloud VPN between the two regions
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary as inter-region traffic is already encrypted.
Enable IPsec on the VPC
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume inter-region traffic requires explicit encryption configuration (like VPN or IPsec), but Google Cloud encrypts all VM-to-VM traffic by default, making those options unnecessary and incorrect.
Detailed technical explanation
Google's network infrastructure uses a combination of MACsec at the physical layer and application-layer encryption (such as TLS) for inter-VM traffic, ensuring encryption in transit without user intervention. This default encryption applies to all traffic within Google's backbone, including inter-region traffic, and is compliant with standards like RFC 4303 for IPSec and TLS 1.2/1.3. A subtle behavior is that this encryption does not apply to traffic that leaves Google's network (e.g., via external IPs or Cloud Interconnect), which would require additional measures like Cloud VPN or HA VPN.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: By default, traffic between GCP VMs is encrypted — Google Cloud encrypts all traffic between VMs at the hypervisor level, regardless of region, using application-layer encryption (e.g., TLS) and network-layer encryption (e.g., IPSec) by default. This encryption is transparent, always-on, and does not require any configuration, making option B the correct answer. The encryption covers all VM-to-VM traffic within the same VPC or across VPCs, including inter-region communication.
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 25, 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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