The answer is to enable Private Google Access on the subnets where the Compute Engine instances reside. This configuration is correct because it allows instances without external IPs to reach Google APIs and services, such as Cloud Storage, by routing traffic through the VPC’s default route to the internet gateway, but only to Google’s published IP ranges—not the general internet. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Private Google Access decouples external IP requirements from API access, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly consider Cloud NAT or a proxy; remember that Cloud NAT provides outbound internet access, which is explicitly unwanted here. A key memory tip is “no external IP, no problem—Private Google Access keeps it internal to Google’s ranges.”
PCNE Practice Question: Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network
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.
An organization has Compute Engine instances in a VPC without external IP addresses. They need to allow these instances to access Google Cloud Storage buckets but not the internet. What should they configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable Private Google Access on the subnets where the instances reside.
Private Google Access allows Compute Engine instances without external IP addresses to reach Google APIs and services, including Cloud Storage, through the VPC network's default route to the internet gateway, but only to Google's published IP ranges. This is the correct solution because it provides the required access without exposing the instances to the general internet.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enable Private Google Access on the subnets where the instances reside.
Why this is correct
Allows instances to reach Google APIs and services using internal IPs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set up Cloud NAT and configure a firewall rule to allow egress to Google Cloud Storage IP ranges.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT allows all internet access; not limited to GCS.
✗
Peer the VPC with the Google Cloud Storage service VPC.
Why it's wrong here
Google Cloud Storage does not expose a VPC for peering.
✗
Create an egress firewall rule allowing traffic to 0.0.0.0/0 and a route to the default internet gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Without external IP, traffic to 0.0.0.0/0 is dropped; also allows internet access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that Cloud NAT is required for outbound access to Google APIs, but Private Google Access is the correct mechanism for instances without external IPs to access Google services while blocking general internet traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Private Google Access works by using the VPC's default route (0.0.0.0/0) to the internet gateway, but the gateway only forwards traffic to Google's published IP ranges (e.g., for storage.googleapis.com) via Google's private backbone, not to arbitrary internet destinations. This is achieved through the 'Private Google Access' subnet-level setting, which enables the use of the 'googleapis.com' private DNS zone and routes traffic to Google's front-end servers without requiring external IPs.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Private Google Access on the subnets where the instances reside. — Private Google Access allows Compute Engine instances without external IP addresses to reach Google APIs and services, including Cloud Storage, through the VPC network's default route to the internet gateway, but only to Google's published IP ranges. This is the correct solution because it provides the required access without exposing the instances to the general internet.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.