- A
Assign external IPs to each VM and disable Cloud NAT
Why wrong: This would give each VM its own external IP, defeating the purpose of a single predictable IP.
- B
Use dynamic NAT IP addresses assigned automatically by Cloud NAT
Why wrong: Dynamic IPs can change over time, which is not predictable.
- C
Enable Cloud NAT logging to monitor traffic
Logging helps audit that traffic is using the intended IPs, but does not guarantee predictability; however, it is often required for compliance.
- D
Reserve and assign static external IP addresses to the Cloud NAT gateway
Static IPs are predictable and can be whitelisted.
- E
Use Private Google Access instead of Cloud NAT
Why wrong: Private Google Access does not provide internet access; it only works for Google APIs.
Question 414 of 1,000
PCNE Implementing VPC Instances Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing vpc instances. 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 uses Cloud NAT for outbound internet access. They want to ensure that all connections from their VMs use a predictable public IP address for whitelisting with third-party services. Which TWO configurations should be applied? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Enable Cloud NAT logging to monitor traffic
Cloud NAT supports static NAT IP addresses that can be reserved and assigned to the NAT gateway. Also, if you assign multiple static IPs, you can use NAT IP address ranges. To ensure all traffic uses a specific IP, you can use a single static IP or a range. Additionally, you can configure logging to monitor usage.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assign external IPs to each VM and disable Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
This would give each VM its own external IP, defeating the purpose of a single predictable IP.
- ✗
Use dynamic NAT IP addresses assigned automatically by Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic IPs can change over time, which is not predictable.
- ✓
Enable Cloud NAT logging to monitor traffic
- ✓
Reserve and assign static external IP addresses to the Cloud NAT gateway
- ✗
Use Private Google Access instead of Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Private Google Access does not provide internet access; it only works for Google APIs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Implementing VPC Instances — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Implementing VPC Instances — This question tests Implementing VPC Instances — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Cloud NAT logging to monitor traffic — Cloud NAT supports static NAT IP addresses that can be reserved and assigned to the NAT gateway. Also, if you assign multiple static IPs, you can use NAT IP address ranges. To ensure all traffic uses a specific IP, you can use a single static IP or a range. Additionally, you can configure logging to monitor usage.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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