- A
Recreate the key with the same name and version
Why wrong: Recreating a key with the same name does not restore the original key material; data encrypted with the old key would be inaccessible.
- B
Wait for the grace period to expire and then use a backup key
Why wrong: Waiting will permanently destroy the key, leading to data loss. No backup key is available if the key was the only one.
- C
Use Access Transparency logs to recover the key material
Why wrong: Access Transparency logs record admin access, not key material recovery.
- D
Restore the key by canceling the destruction within the grace period
During the pending destruction state, the key can be restored by cancelling the destruction via Cloud KMS.
Question 567 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 CMEK with Cloud HSM to encrypt a BigQuery table. The security engineer accidentally deleted the key in Cloud KMS. The key is now in a 'pending destruction' state with a grace period of 24 hours. Which action should the engineer take to restore the key and avoid data loss?
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
✓
Restore the key by canceling the destruction within the grace period
When a key is destroyed, it enters a pending destruction state for a default 24-hour grace period. During this period, the key can be restored by cancelling the destruction. After the grace period, the key is permanently destroyed and data encrypted with it becomes inaccessible. The restore operation is available in Cloud KMS.
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.
- ✗
Recreate the key with the same name and version
Why it's wrong here
Recreating a key with the same name does not restore the original key material; data encrypted with the old key would be inaccessible.
- ✗
Wait for the grace period to expire and then use a backup key
Why it's wrong here
Waiting will permanently destroy the key, leading to data loss. No backup key is available if the key was the only one.
- ✗
Use Access Transparency logs to recover the key material
Why it's wrong here
Access Transparency logs record admin access, not key material recovery.
- ✓
Restore the key by canceling the destruction within the grace period
Why this is correct
During the pending destruction state, the key can be restored by cancelling the destruction via Cloud KMS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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Ensuring Data Protection — study guide chapter
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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: Restore the key by canceling the destruction within the grace period — When a key is destroyed, it enters a pending destruction state for a default 24-hour grace period. During this period, the key can be restored by cancelling the destruction. After the grace period, the key is permanently destroyed and data encrypted with it becomes inaccessible. The restore operation is available in Cloud KMS.
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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