- A
Use a Cloud Function to rotate the key every 90 days via the Cloud KMS API.
Why wrong: This is manual rotation, not automatic. Cloud KMS native rotation is simpler and recommended.
- B
Set the rotation period on the key to 90 days and ensure the key purpose is ENCRYPT_DECRYPT.
Setting rotation period on the key itself enables automatic rotation. ENCRYPT_DECRYPT is required for symmetric encryption.
- C
Create a Cloud Scheduler job to manually rotate the key every 90 days.
Why wrong: Manual rotation is not automatic; it requires an external scheduler and extra management.
- D
Set the rotation period on the key ring to 90 days.
Why wrong: Rotation periods are set on individual keys, not key rings.
Question 813 of 985
PCSE Ensuring Data Protection Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of ensuring data protection. 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 uses Cloud KMS to manage encryption keys for data at rest. They want to automatically rotate a symmetric key every 90 days. The key is used to encrypt Cloud Storage objects and BigQuery tables. What is the correct approach to achieve automatic rotation?
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 the rotation period on the key to 90 days and ensure the key purpose is ENCRYPT_DECRYPT.
In Cloud KMS, you can set a rotation period on a key. Automatic rotation creates a new key version at the specified interval. The key must have purpose ENCRYPT_DECRYPT for symmetric encryption. Manual rotation is not automatic, and setting a rotation period on key rings is not possible.
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.
- ✗
Use a Cloud Function to rotate the key every 90 days via the Cloud KMS API.
Why it's wrong here
This is manual rotation, not automatic. Cloud KMS native rotation is simpler and recommended.
- ✓
Set the rotation period on the key to 90 days and ensure the key purpose is ENCRYPT_DECRYPT.
Why this is correct
Setting rotation period on the key itself enables automatic rotation. ENCRYPT_DECRYPT is required for symmetric encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a Cloud Scheduler job to manually rotate the key every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation is not automatic; it requires an external scheduler and extra management.
- ✗
Set the rotation period on the key ring to 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Rotation periods are set on individual keys, not key rings.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
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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Ensuring Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Ensuring Data Protection practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Ensuring Data Protection — This question tests Ensuring Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set the rotation period on the key to 90 days and ensure the key purpose is ENCRYPT_DECRYPT. — In Cloud KMS, you can set a rotation period on a key. Automatic rotation creates a new key version at the specified interval. The key must have purpose ENCRYPT_DECRYPT for symmetric encryption. Manual rotation is not automatic, and setting a rotation period on key rings is not possible.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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