- A
The project administrator can modify the hierarchical policy to allow HTTP.
Why wrong: Only organization admins can modify hierarchical policies.
- B
The project administrator can create a VPC firewall rule to allow HTTP, and it will work if the policy is not enforced.
Why wrong: The policy is enforced; it cannot be bypassed by VPC rules.
- C
The project administrator cannot allow HTTP because the hierarchical policy denies all traffic.
Hierarchical policies are mandatory and override lower-level rules.
- D
The project administrator can create a VPC firewall rule with higher priority to override the policy.
Why wrong: Hierarchical policies always override VPC firewall rules; priority only applies within the same level.
Question 646 of 985
PCSE Configuring Network Security Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network security. 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 uses hierarchical firewall policies at the organization level to enforce a baseline deny-all rule. A project administrator wants to create a firewall rule that allows HTTP traffic to a specific VM. Which statement is correct?
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
✓
The project administrator cannot allow HTTP because the hierarchical policy denies all traffic.
Hierarchical firewall policies are inherited and cannot be overridden by lower-level rules. The deny-all rule from the policy takes precedence over any VPC firewall rule that would allow traffic.
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.
- ✗
The project administrator can modify the hierarchical policy to allow HTTP.
Why it's wrong here
Only organization admins can modify hierarchical policies.
- ✗
The project administrator can create a VPC firewall rule to allow HTTP, and it will work if the policy is not enforced.
Why it's wrong here
The policy is enforced; it cannot be bypassed by VPC rules.
- ✓
The project administrator cannot allow HTTP because the hierarchical policy denies all traffic.
Why this is correct
Hierarchical policies are mandatory and override lower-level rules.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
The project administrator can create a VPC firewall rule with higher priority to override the policy.
Why it's wrong here
Hierarchical policies always override VPC firewall rules; priority only applies within the same level.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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 Network Security — This question tests Configuring Network Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The project administrator cannot allow HTTP because the hierarchical policy denies all traffic. — Hierarchical firewall policies are inherited and cannot be overridden by lower-level rules. The deny-all rule from the policy takes precedence over any VPC firewall rule that would allow traffic.
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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