- A
Create VPC firewall rules with deny egress for the specific VMs in each VPC.
Why wrong: VPC-level rules can be overridden by higher-priority rules and are not centrally managed across projects.
- B
Deploy a hierarchical firewall policy at the organization level with a deny egress rule targeting the VMs.
Hierarchical firewall policies are centrally managed and can override VPC firewall rules.
- C
Use a network firewall policy attached to each VPC network.
Why wrong: Network firewall policies apply per VPC and may not override VPC rules if not configured correctly, and they are not centralized at the org level.
- D
Configure Cloud Armor security policies on the load balancer to block egress.
Why wrong: Cloud Armor policies apply to incoming traffic to load balancers, not egress from instances.
PCNE Implementing VPC Instances Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing vpc instances. 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 security team wants to enforce a policy that blocks all egress traffic to the internet from a specific set of VMs across multiple projects in an organization. The policy should be centrally managed and override VPC-level firewall rules. Which approach should they use?
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
Deploy a hierarchical firewall policy at the organization level with a deny egress rule targeting the VMs.
Hierarchical firewall policies at the organization level can enforce rules that apply to all VPCs and override VPC-level rules with lower priority.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create VPC firewall rules with deny egress for the specific VMs in each VPC.
Why it's wrong here
VPC-level rules can be overridden by higher-priority rules and are not centrally managed across projects.
- ✓
Deploy a hierarchical firewall policy at the organization level with a deny egress rule targeting the VMs.
Why this is correct
Hierarchical firewall policies are centrally managed and can override VPC firewall rules.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Use a network firewall policy attached to each VPC network.
Why it's wrong here
Network firewall policies apply per VPC and may not override VPC rules if not configured correctly, and they are not centralized at the org level.
- ✗
Configure Cloud Armor security policies on the load balancer to block egress.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor policies apply to incoming traffic to load balancers, not egress from instances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Implementing VPC Instances — This question tests Implementing VPC Instances — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy a hierarchical firewall policy at the organization level with a deny egress rule targeting the VMs. — Hierarchical firewall policies at the organization level can enforce rules that apply to all VPCs and override VPC-level rules with lower priority.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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