- A
Enable the new secret version by setting its state to 'enabled' via the Cloud Console, gcloud, or API.
New versions are created disabled; they must be enabled to be accessible.
- B
Grant the service account the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor at the project level instead of on the secret resource.
Why wrong: The service account already has the role on the secret; project-level access would not fix a disabled version issue.
- C
Update the application to use the specific version ID of the new secret instead of the 'latest' label.
Why wrong: Using a specific version would also fail if that version is disabled.
- D
Add an IAM condition on the secret that restricts access to only the latest version.
Why wrong: IAM conditions cannot enable a disabled version; they only gate access to enabled resources.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the new secret version must be explicitly enabled after rotation because Cloud Secret Manager creates new versions in a disabled state by default. Even when a version is set as the latest, the application’s call to fetch the secret with the 'latest' label will point to a disabled version, blocking access and causing authentication failure. This scenario tests your understanding of the secret version lifecycle, a common exam trap where candidates assume setting a version as latest automatically grants access. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this concept appears in troubleshooting questions about secret rotation and service account permissions, often paired with the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor role check to distract from the version state issue. To resolve it, you must enable the new secret version via the Cloud Console, gcloud command, or API. Remember the mnemonic: “Latest is not enough—enable to unlock.”
PCSE Ensuring data protection Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of ensuring data protection. 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 development team uses Cloud Secret Manager to store database credentials for an application running on Compute Engine. The application reads the secret using the Secret Manager API. After the team rotates the secret by adding a new version and setting it as the latest, the application continues to use the old secret version and fails to authenticate. The application is configured to fetch the secret with version 'latest' at startup. The team checks that the Compute Engine service account has the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor role on the secret. What is the most likely cause of the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Enable the new secret version by setting its state to 'enabled' via the Cloud Console, gcloud, or API.
When a new secret version is added via Cloud Secret Manager, it is created in the 'disabled' state by default. Even if it is set as the 'latest' version, the application cannot access it until the version is explicitly enabled. The application fetches the secret using the 'latest' label, which points to the disabled version, causing authentication failure. Enabling the new version resolves the issue.
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.
- ✓
Enable the new secret version by setting its state to 'enabled' via the Cloud Console, gcloud, or API.
Why this is correct
New versions are created disabled; they must be enabled to be accessible.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Grant the service account the roles/secretmanager.secretAccessor at the project level instead of on the secret resource.
Why it's wrong here
The service account already has the role on the secret; project-level access would not fix a disabled version issue.
- ✗
Update the application to use the specific version ID of the new secret instead of the 'latest' label.
Why it's wrong here
Using a specific version would also fail if that version is disabled.
- ✗
Add an IAM condition on the secret that restricts access to only the latest version.
Why it's wrong here
IAM conditions cannot enable a disabled version; they only gate access to enabled resources.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that setting a new version as 'latest' automatically makes it accessible, ignoring the default disabled state of newly added secret versions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Google Cloud Secret Manager, each secret version has a state: 'enabled', 'disabled', or 'destroyed'. When a new version is added via the API or gcloud, it defaults to 'disabled' unless explicitly enabled with the --state=enabled flag. The 'latest' alias always points to the version with the highest version number, regardless of its state. This behavior is critical in automated rotation pipelines where a version must be enabled before use, preventing accidental exposure of incomplete or test secrets.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
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: Enable the new secret version by setting its state to 'enabled' via the Cloud Console, gcloud, or API. — When a new secret version is added via Cloud Secret Manager, it is created in the 'disabled' state by default. Even if it is set as the 'latest' version, the application cannot access it until the version is explicitly enabled. The application fetches the secret using the 'latest' label, which points to the disabled version, causing authentication failure. Enabling the new version resolves the issue.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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