Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud VPN. This is the correct choice because Cloud VPN securely extends an on-premises network to a Google Cloud VPC over the public internet using IPsec VPN tunnels, providing the encrypted connectivity required for migrating an existing IPsec-based architecture. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of hybrid connectivity options, where the key differentiator is that Cloud VPN uses standard IPsec protocols, while services like Cloud Interconnect or Direct Peering offer dedicated or private connections without native IPsec encryption. A common trap is choosing Cloud Interconnect for its higher throughput, but the requirement for IPsec tunnel connectivity explicitly points to Cloud VPN. Remember the memory tip: if the scenario mentions “IPsec” or “encrypted tunnel over the internet,” think Cloud VPN—it’s the only GCP service that natively terminates IPsec tunnels for secure site-to-site connectivity.
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 migrate an on-premises application that uses IPsec VPN tunnels to Google Cloud. They need to ensure encrypted connectivity between the on-premises network and a VPC. Which GCP service should they use?
Cloud Router
Why wrong: Manages BGP routing, not a VPN service.
Cloud Interconnect
Why wrong: Dedicated connection, not IPsec VPN.
VPC Network
Why wrong: A VPC is a virtual network, not a connectivity service.
Cloud VPN
Provides IPsec VPN connectivity.
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 VPN
Cloud VPN (D) is the correct service because it securely extends an on-premises network to a Google Cloud VPC over the public internet using IPsec VPN tunnels. It provides encrypted connectivity that matches the existing IPsec-based architecture, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity between the two sites.
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 Router
Cloud Interconnect
VPC Network
Why it's wrong here
A VPC is a virtual network, not a connectivity service.
Cloud VPN
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse Cloud Router (a routing protocol component) with the actual VPN connectivity service, or assume Cloud Interconnect is required for encryption, when in fact Cloud Interconnect offers no native encryption and relies on separate IPsec overlays.
Detailed technical explanation
Cloud VPN supports both route-based (policy-based) and route-based (BGP dynamic) tunnels using IKEv1 or IKEv2 with pre-shared keys or certificates. Under the hood, each tunnel is an IPsec ESP tunnel mode connection that encapsulates original packets, and when combined with Cloud Router, it can dynamically exchange routes via BGP to handle failover or multi-subnet topologies without manual static route updates.
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: Cloud VPN — Cloud VPN (D) is the correct service because it securely extends an on-premises network to a Google Cloud VPC over the public internet using IPsec VPN tunnels. It provides encrypted connectivity that matches the existing IPsec-based architecture, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity between the two sites.
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
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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