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Implementing network security →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCNE Implementing network security Practice Question

This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing network security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.

Exhibit

{
  "rules": [
    {
      "action": "deny(403)",
      "priority": 1000,
      "match": {
        "versionedExpr": "SRC_IPS_V1",
        "config": {
          "srcIpRanges": ["10.0.0.0/8"]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "action": "allow",
      "priority": 2000,
      "match": {
        "versionedExpr": "SRC_IPS_V1",
        "config": {
          "srcIpRanges": ["0.0.0.0/0"]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Refer to the exhibit. A Cloud Armor security policy with the shown rules is applied to an HTTPS load balancer. Users from IP 10.0.1.1 are reporting they cannot access the website. What is the issue?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

Exhibit

{
  "rules": [
    {
      "action": "deny(403)",
      "priority": 1000,
      "match": {
        "versionedExpr": "SRC_IPS_V1",
        "config": {
          "srcIpRanges": ["10.0.0.0/8"]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "action": "allow",
      "priority": 2000,
      "match": {
        "versionedExpr": "SRC_IPS_V1",
        "config": {
          "srcIpRanges": ["0.0.0.0/0"]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

A
The load balancer is not configured to use the security policy.
Why wrong: If the policy were not attached, neither rule would apply.
B
The allow rule with priority 2000 does not apply because the deny rule is evaluated first.
Why wrong: The deny rule blocks traffic; the allow rule never applies, but the issue is the deny rule itself.
C
The deny rule has higher priority and blocks traffic from 10.0.0.0/8.
The deny rule with priority 1000 matches 10.0.1.1 and blocks it.
D
The IP range in the deny rule is too broad.
Why wrong: The IP range includes the user's IP, which is why they are blocked.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The deny rule has higher priority and blocks traffic from 10.0.0.0/8.

Option C is correct because Cloud Armor security policies evaluate rules in priority order, with lower numbers having higher priority. The deny rule at priority 1000 matches the source IP range 10.0.0.0/8, which includes the user's IP 10.0.1.1, and is evaluated before the allow rule at priority 2000. Since the deny rule is matched first, the request is blocked, preventing access to the HTTPS load balancer.

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.

✗
The load balancer is not configured to use the security policy.
Why it's wrong here
If the policy were not attached, neither rule would apply.
✗
The allow rule with priority 2000 does not apply because the deny rule is evaluated first.
Why it's wrong here
The deny rule blocks traffic; the allow rule never applies, but the issue is the deny rule itself.
✓
The deny rule has higher priority and blocks traffic from 10.0.0.0/8.
Why this is correct
The deny rule with priority 1000 matches 10.0.1.1 and blocks it.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The IP range in the deny rule is too broad.
Why it's wrong here
The IP range includes the user's IP, which is why they are blocked.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Google Cloud often tests the misconception that deny rules are always evaluated before allow rules, but the trap here is that Cloud Armor uses numeric priority to determine evaluation order, not rule type.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Cloud Armor security policies use a priority-based evaluation model where rules with lower priority numbers are evaluated first, and the first matching rule determines the action (allow or deny). The source IP range in the deny rule uses CIDR notation, and 10.0.0.0/8 covers all private IPs from 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, which includes the user's IP 10.0.1.1. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured priority or overly broad deny ranges can inadvertently block legitimate traffic, especially when using private IP ranges common in corporate networks.

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 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.

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

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCNE question test?

Implementing network security — This question tests Implementing network security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The deny rule has higher priority and blocks traffic from 10.0.0.0/8. — Option C is correct because Cloud Armor security policies evaluate rules in priority order, with lower numbers having higher priority. The deny rule at priority 1000 matches the source IP range 10.0.0.0/8, which includes the user's IP 10.0.1.1, and is evaluated before the allow rule at priority 2000. Since the deny rule is matched first, the request is blocked, preventing access to the HTTPS load balancer.

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.

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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026

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