- A
Ensure the certificate chain includes intermediate CA certificates
For self-managed certificates, the full chain (leaf, intermediates) must be uploaded for the load balancer to trust the certificate.
- B
Set up a Cloud DNS zone with DNSSEC
Why wrong: DNSSEC is for domain name resolution integrity, not for certificate management.
- C
Create a Certificate Manager certificate resource and map it to the load balancer
Certificate Manager allows you to manage and map multiple certificates to load balancer targets.
- D
Upload the PEM certificate to the load balancer as a self-managed certificate
You can upload a self-managed certificate directly to the load balancer.
- E
Use a Google-managed certificate for automatic renewal
Why wrong: The requirement is to use their own CA, so Google-managed is not appropriate.
PCSE Configuring Network Security Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 wants to deploy a web application with a global load balancer and needs to configure SSL/TLS termination. They want to use a certificate from their own CA and have the ability to manage multiple certificates for different domains. Which THREE steps should they take?
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
Ensure the certificate chain includes intermediate CA certificates
To use self-managed certificates with a load balancer, you can upload the PEM file directly to the load balancer, or use Certificate Manager to manage multiple certificates. The steps: create a Certificate Manager certificate resource with your PEM, map it to the load balancer target, and ensure the certificate is properly uploaded. Self-managed certificates require manual renewal, so you need to monitor expiration.
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.
- ✓
Ensure the certificate chain includes intermediate CA certificates
Why this is correct
For self-managed certificates, the full chain (leaf, intermediates) must be uploaded for the load balancer to trust the certificate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set up a Cloud DNS zone with DNSSEC
Why it's wrong here
DNSSEC is for domain name resolution integrity, not for certificate management.
- ✓
Create a Certificate Manager certificate resource and map it to the load balancer
Why this is correct
Certificate Manager allows you to manage and map multiple certificates to load balancer targets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Upload the PEM certificate to the load balancer as a self-managed certificate
Why this is correct
You can upload a self-managed certificate directly to the load balancer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a Google-managed certificate for automatic renewal
Why it's wrong here
The requirement is to use their own CA, so Google-managed is not appropriate.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
- →
Configuring Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Network Security — This question tests Configuring Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Ensure the certificate chain includes intermediate CA certificates — To use self-managed certificates with a load balancer, you can upload the PEM file directly to the load balancer, or use Certificate Manager to manage multiple certificates. The steps: create a Certificate Manager certificate resource with your PEM, map it to the load balancer target, and ensure the certificate is properly uploaded. Self-managed certificates require manual renewal, so you need to monitor expiration.
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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