- A
Create an IAM deny policy at the organization level that denies the compute.instances.create permission unless the Shielded VM flag is set.
Why wrong: IAM deny policies cannot conditionally deny creation based on instance configuration; they deny specific permissions unconditionally or based on attributes like resource name, not VM settings.
- B
Create a custom role that includes the permission to create instances only with Shielded VM, and assign it to all users.
Why wrong: Custom roles cannot enforce that Shielded VM must be enabled; they only grant permissions. Users with other roles could still create non-compliant instances.
- C
Use the Organization Policy Service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm.
This built-in constraint forces Shielded VM to be required when creating instances. It can be applied at the folder level to cover all projects under a department.
- D
Implement a service account that only has permission to create instances and use service account impersonation for all instance creation.
Why wrong: Service account impersonation does not enforce Shielded VM requirements. It only controls who can act as a service account.
PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access within a cloud solution environment. 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.
A company has multiple Google Cloud projects organized under folders by department. The security team wants to enforce a policy that all Compute Engine instances must use Shielded VM features. They need to prevent non-compliant instances from being created. Which action should be taken to enforce this requirement most effectively?
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
Use the Organization Policy Service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm.
Organization Policy constraints are the correct mechanism to enforce requirements across the resource hierarchy. The built-in constraint 'constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm' ensures that any new Compute Engine instance must have Shielded VM features enabled. This policy can be applied at the organization, folder, or project level. IAM roles or custom roles cannot enforce instance configuration requirements. Service account impersonation is unrelated. Deny policies can deny specific permissions but not enforce Shielded VM settings.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create an IAM deny policy at the organization level that denies the compute.instances.create permission unless the Shielded VM flag is set.
Why it's wrong here
IAM deny policies cannot conditionally deny creation based on instance configuration; they deny specific permissions unconditionally or based on attributes like resource name, not VM settings.
- ✗
Create a custom role that includes the permission to create instances only with Shielded VM, and assign it to all users.
Why it's wrong here
Custom roles cannot enforce that Shielded VM must be enabled; they only grant permissions. Users with other roles could still create non-compliant instances.
- ✓
Use the Organization Policy Service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm.
Why this is correct
This built-in constraint forces Shielded VM to be required when creating instances. It can be applied at the folder level to cover all projects under a department.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Implement a service account that only has permission to create instances and use service account impersonation for all instance creation.
Why it's wrong here
Service account impersonation does not enforce Shielded VM requirements. It only controls who can act as a service account.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — This question tests Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Organization Policy Service with the constraint constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm. — Organization Policy constraints are the correct mechanism to enforce requirements across the resource hierarchy. The built-in constraint 'constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm' ensures that any new Compute Engine instance must have Shielded VM features enabled. This policy can be applied at the organization, folder, or project level. IAM roles or custom roles cannot enforce instance configuration requirements. Service account impersonation is unrelated. Deny policies can deny specific permissions but not enforce Shielded VM settings.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCSE 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 PCSE exam.
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