- A
Enable Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM).
Cloud EKM allows you to use an external key management partner or your own on-premises HSM to manage encryption keys.
- B
Apply default Google-managed AES-256 encryption.
Why wrong: Default Google-managed encryption keys are not customer-managed and do not originate from the customer's on-premises HSM.
- C
Use Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) with Cloud HSM to generate keys.
Why wrong: Cloud HSM keys are still managed by Google, not on the customer's on-premises HSM.
- D
Use customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK).
Why wrong: CSEK keys are used only for encryption/decryption and are managed by Google on the server side; they do not use an on-premises HSM.
Question 963 of 985
PCSE Supporting Compliance Requirements Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of supporting compliance requirements. 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 healthcare organization is migrating PHI workloads to Google Cloud and needs to encrypt data at rest with keys that are generated and managed within their own on-premises hardware security module (HSM). Which encryption approach should they use?
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 Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM).
Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM) allows you to manage encryption keys in an external key management system that is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated, including on-premises HSMs. CSEK requires you to supply your own keys but Google manages them on the server side. CMEK uses Cloud KMS keys, which can be generated in Cloud HSM, but the keys remain under Google's control. AES-256 encryption is the default Google-managed encryption, which does not meet the requirement for customer-managed keys on an on-premises HSM.
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 Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM).
Why this is correct
Cloud EKM allows you to use an external key management partner or your own on-premises HSM to manage encryption keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply default Google-managed AES-256 encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Default Google-managed encryption keys are not customer-managed and do not originate from the customer's on-premises HSM.
- ✗
Use Cloud Key Management Service (Cloud KMS) with Cloud HSM to generate keys.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM keys are still managed by Google, not on the customer's on-premises HSM.
- ✗
Use customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK).
Why it's wrong here
CSEK keys are used only for encryption/decryption and are managed by Google on the server side; they do not use an on-premises HSM.
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.
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.
- →
Supporting Compliance Requirements — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Supporting Compliance Requirements practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCSE questions
985 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCSE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCSE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment.
Ensuring Data Protection practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Ensuring Data Protection.
Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Managing Operations in a Cloud Solution Environment.
Configuring Network Security practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring Network Security.
Supporting Compliance Requirements practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Supporting Compliance Requirements.
PCSE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE fundamentals.
PCSE scenario practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE scenario.
PCSE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCSE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Supporting Compliance Requirements — This question tests Supporting Compliance Requirements — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM). — Cloud External Key Manager (Cloud EKM) allows you to manage encryption keys in an external key management system that is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated, including on-premises HSMs. CSEK requires you to supply your own keys but Google manages them on the server side. CMEK uses Cloud KMS keys, which can be generated in Cloud HSM, but the keys remain under Google's control. AES-256 encryption is the default Google-managed encryption, which does not meet the requirement for customer-managed keys on an on-premises HSM.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.