- A
Store the service account key in Secret Manager and retrieve it at runtime.
Why wrong: This still requires a long-lived key to access Secret Manager or the key itself.
- B
Create a new service account and attach it to the VM instance; remove the old key.
Attached service accounts use short-lived tokens from the metadata server, no keys needed.
- C
Use the default compute engine service account instead.
Why wrong: Default service accounts often have broad permissions and less control.
- D
Use Workload Identity Federation to authenticate the batch job.
Why wrong: Workload Identity Federation is for external identities (e.g., AWS), not for Compute Engine VMs.
Question 630 of 985
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. 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.
A company runs a batch job on Compute Engine that processes sensitive data. The job uses a service account with a JSON key file stored on the VM. A security audit recommends removing long-lived keys. The job must run unattended. What is the best alternative?
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
✓
Create a new service account and attach it to the VM instance; remove the old key.
Using a service account attached to the VM instance is the best practice. Compute Engine automatically obtains short-lived tokens from the metadata server, eliminating the need for keys. Workload Identity Federation is for external workloads. Secret Manager still requires a key to access. Default compute service account is less secure than a custom one.
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.
- ✗
Store the service account key in Secret Manager and retrieve it at runtime.
Why it's wrong here
This still requires a long-lived key to access Secret Manager or the key itself.
- ✓
Create a new service account and attach it to the VM instance; remove the old key.
Why this is correct
Attached service accounts use short-lived tokens from the metadata server, no keys needed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the default compute engine service account instead.
Why it's wrong here
Default service accounts often have broad permissions and less control.
- ✗
Use Workload Identity Federation to authenticate the batch job.
Why it's wrong here
Workload Identity Federation is for external identities (e.g., AWS), not for Compute Engine VMs.
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 PCSE 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 PCSE question test?
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — This question tests Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a new service account and attach it to the VM instance; remove the old key. — Using a service account attached to the VM instance is the best practice. Compute Engine automatically obtains short-lived tokens from the metadata server, eliminating the need for keys. Workload Identity Federation is for external workloads. Secret Manager still requires a key to access. Default compute service account is less secure than a custom one.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which PCSE 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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