- A
Set up Cloud VPN or Interconnect and configure proper routing and firewall rules.
VPN/Interconnect provide direct connectivity to private IPs from on-premises.
- B
Assign public IP addresses to the resources and use firewall rules to allow on-premises traffic.
Why wrong: This defeats the purpose of private IPs and is not 'private'.
- C
Use Cloud NAT to allow inbound connections from on-premises.
Why wrong: Cloud NAT enables outbound connections to the internet, not inbound from on-premises.
- D
Use the default internet gateway route for the VPC.
Why wrong: Default internet gateway is for outbound traffic from VMs, not inbound from on-premises.
- E
Configure Private Google Access for on-premises hosts.
Private Google Access allows on-premises hosts to reach Google Cloud APIs using private IPs over peering/interconnect.
PCNE Implementing hybrid interconnectivity Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of implementing hybrid interconnectivity. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 are valid methods to allow on-premises traffic to reach Google Cloud resources that only have internal (private) IP addresses? (Choose two.)
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
Set up Cloud VPN or Interconnect and configure proper routing and firewall rules.
Option A is correct because Cloud VPN or Interconnect creates a secure, private connection between on-premises and Google Cloud VPCs. By configuring proper routing (e.g., custom static routes or BGP) and firewall rules, on-premises traffic can reach internal-only IP addresses without needing public IPs, as the traffic traverses the private network path.
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.
- ✓
Set up Cloud VPN or Interconnect and configure proper routing and firewall rules.
- ✗
Assign public IP addresses to the resources and use firewall rules to allow on-premises traffic.
Why it's wrong here
This defeats the purpose of private IPs and is not 'private'.
- ✗
Use Cloud NAT to allow inbound connections from on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT enables outbound connections to the internet, not inbound from on-premises.
- ✗
Use the default internet gateway route for the VPC.
Why it's wrong here
Default internet gateway is for outbound traffic from VMs, not inbound from on-premises.
- ✓
Configure Private Google Access for on-premises hosts.
Why this is correct
Private Google Access allows on-premises hosts to reach Google Cloud APIs using private IPs over peering/interconnect.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that Cloud NAT can handle inbound connections, but it only supports outbound SNAT/DNAT for outbound traffic, not inbound-initiated connections from on-premises.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud VPN uses IPsec tunnels (IKEv1 or IKEv2) with ESP protocol to encrypt traffic between on-premises and GCP, while Interconnect uses MPLS-based Layer 2 or Layer 3 connections. For routing, BGP dynamic routing (RFC 4271) is recommended to exchange prefixes and enable failover; static routes can also be used but require manual updates. Firewall rules in VPC are stateful and must allow ingress from on-premises source IP ranges to the internal-only VM instances.
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 hybrid interconnectivity — This question tests Implementing hybrid interconnectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set up Cloud VPN or Interconnect and configure proper routing and firewall rules. — Option A is correct because Cloud VPN or Interconnect creates a secure, private connection between on-premises and Google Cloud VPCs. By configuring proper routing (e.g., custom static routes or BGP) and firewall rules, on-premises traffic can reach internal-only IP addresses without needing public IPs, as the traffic traverses the private network path.
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
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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