The answer is Cloud NAT and VPC peering to a network with Cloud NAT. These two configurations provide internet access to private VMs without external IPs by enabling source network address translation (SNAT), which allows outbound connections while keeping the VMs unreachable from the internet. Cloud NAT translates private IPs to a shared public IP for egress traffic, and when you peer a VPC to a network that already has Cloud NAT, the peered VMs can leverage that same NAT gateway for internet access. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of native Google Cloud egress solutions versus hybrid or limited-access options—common traps include confusing Private Google Access (which only reaches Google APIs) with full internet access, or mistaking VPN tunnels for NAT functionality. A useful memory tip: “NAT for the net, Private Access for APIs only.”
PCNE Configuring network services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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.
Which TWO configurations can enable VM instances without external IPs to access the internet? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
VPC peering with a network that has Cloud NAT
Cloud NAT (Option A) provides source network address translation for VMs in a subnet. VPC peering to a network with Cloud NAT (Option C) allows VMs to use the NAT of the peered network. Option B only provides access to Google APIs, not the full internet. Option D is for on-premises connectivity. Option E is possible but not a native Google Cloud service.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Direct peering with Google
Why it's wrong here
Direct peering is for on-premises networks to connect to Google, not for VM internet access.
✓
VPC peering with a network that has Cloud NAT
Why this is correct
Through VPC peering, VMs can use the NAT of the peered network for outbound traffic.
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: VPC peering with a network that has Cloud NAT — Cloud NAT (Option A) provides source network address translation for VMs in a subnet. VPC peering to a network with Cloud NAT (Option C) allows VMs to use the NAT of the peered network. Option B only provides access to Google APIs, not the full internet. Option D is for on-premises connectivity. Option E is possible but not a native Google Cloud service.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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
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