Quick Answer
The answer is BGP, as it is the only dynamic routing protocol supported by Google Cloud for site-to-site VPN tunnels. This is because Cloud VPN with dynamic routing relies on Border Gateway Protocol to exchange routes between the on-premises router and the Cloud Router, enabling route advertisement, automatic failover, and policy-based control across multiple tunnels. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this concept often appears in scenario-based questions where a company needs to connect their on-premises data center to Google Cloud using a site-to-site VPN with dynamic routing, and the common trap is assuming protocols like OSPF or EIGRP are supported—they are not. BGP’s use here tests your understanding that Google Cloud’s hybrid connectivity mandates a path-vector protocol for route exchange, not an interior gateway protocol. A helpful memory tip: think of BGP as the “bridge” for cloud VPNs—it’s the only Border Gateway that works with Google’s Cloud Router.
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 wants to connect their on-premises data center to Google Cloud using a site-to-site VPN with dynamic routing. Which protocol should they use for route exchange?
OSPF
Why wrong: OSPF is not supported by Cloud VPN.
Static routing
Why wrong: Static routing is not dynamic; BGP is recommended for dynamic routing.
BGP
BGP is used for dynamic route exchange in Cloud VPN.
RIP
Why wrong: RIP is not used in GCP Cloud VPN.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
BGP
C is correct because Cloud VPN with dynamic routing requires BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to exchange routes between the on-premises router and the Cloud Router. BGP is the only dynamic routing protocol supported by Google Cloud for site-to-site VPN tunnels, as it allows route advertisement, failover, and policy-based control over multiple tunnels.
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.
OSPF
Static routing
Why it's wrong here
Static routing is not dynamic; BGP is recommended for dynamic routing.
BGP
RIP
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume OSPF or RIP are valid for dynamic routing in cloud VPNs because they are common in on-premises networks, but Google Cloud exclusively supports BGP for dynamic route exchange over site-to-site VPN tunnels.
Detailed technical explanation
BGP (RFC 4271) is an exterior gateway protocol (EGP) that uses path-vector logic and supports attributes like AS_PATH and LOCAL_PREF for route selection and policy. In Google Cloud, Cloud Router establishes BGP sessions over the VPN tunnel, enabling the exchange of custom IP prefixes and automatic failover between redundant tunnels. A common subtlety is that BGP timers (e.g., keepalive and hold timers) must be consistent between peers, and Google Cloud uses a default hold time of 60 seconds.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: BGP — C is correct because Cloud VPN with dynamic routing requires BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to exchange routes between the on-premises router and the Cloud Router. BGP is the only dynamic routing protocol supported by Google Cloud for site-to-site VPN tunnels, as it allows route advertisement, failover, and policy-based control over multiple tunnels.
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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