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Configuring network services →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCNE Configuring network services Practice Question

This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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

gcloud dns managed-zones describe example-zone
creationTime: '2023-01-01T12:00:00.000Z'
description: Example private zone
dnsName: example.com.
id: '1234567890'
kind: dns#managedZone
name: example-zone
nameServers:
- ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c4.googledomains.com
privateVisibilityConfig:
  networks:
  - networkUrl: https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/my-project/global/networks/vpc1
visibility: private

Refer to the exhibit. A DNS managed zone is configured with private visibility and associated with a VPC network. A Compute Engine instance in a different VPC network tries to resolve 'test.example.com' but fails. What is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full DNS explanation →

Exhibit

gcloud dns managed-zones describe example-zone
creationTime: '2023-01-01T12:00:00.000Z'
description: Example private zone
dnsName: example.com.
id: '1234567890'
kind: dns#managedZone
name: example-zone
nameServers:
- ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com
- ns-cloud-c4.googledomains.com
privateVisibilityConfig:
  networks:
  - networkUrl: https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/my-project/global/networks/vpc1
visibility: private

A
The zone is not set as authoritative for example.com.
Why wrong: The zone is private and authoritative for example.com; that is not the issue.
B
The Cloud DNS name servers are not reachable from the instance.
Why wrong: Cloud DNS name servers are reachable from any VPC with default routes, but the zone will not respond to unauthorized networks.
C
The instance's VPC is not in the list of authorized networks.
The zone only resolves queries from vpc1; other VPCs are not authorized.
D
The instance does not have the required IAM permissions.
Why wrong: Resolving DNS does not require IAM permissions; it uses standard DNS queries.

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 instance's VPC is not in the list of authorized networks.

Private zones only respond to queries from authorized VPC networks. The instance is in a different VPC, so resolution fails.

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 zone is not set as authoritative for example.com.
Why it's wrong here
The zone is private and authoritative for example.com; that is not the issue.
✗
The Cloud DNS name servers are not reachable from the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud DNS name servers are reachable from any VPC with default routes, but the zone will not respond to unauthorized networks.
✓
The instance's VPC is not in the list of authorized networks.
Why this is correct
The zone only resolves queries from vpc1; other VPCs are not authorized.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The instance does not have the required IAM permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Resolving DNS does not require IAM permissions; it uses standard DNS queries.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 PCNE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCNE question test?

Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The instance's VPC is not in the list of authorized networks. — Private zones only respond to queries from authorized VPC networks. The instance is in a different VPC, so resolution fails.

What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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