- A
Create a log sink to export the logs to Cloud Storage.
Log sinks allow exporting logs to Cloud Storage where retention policies can be set for longer periods.
- B
Enable Access Transparency logs.
Why wrong: Access Transparency logs add visibility into Google personnel access but do not extend retention.
- C
Set a retention policy on the Cloud SQL instance.
Why wrong: Cloud SQL instances have automated backups, but audit logs are separate and require log sinks for long-term retention.
- D
Adjust the retention period in the Logs Explorer to 1 year.
Why wrong: Logs Explorer does not allow changing retention; default retention is 30 days for most logs.
Question 456 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 needs to ensure that all access to ePHI in Cloud SQL is logged for HIPAA compliance. They have enabled audit logs. What additional step is required to ensure logs are retained for at least one year?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
✓
Create a log sink to export the logs to Cloud Storage.
Cloud Audit Logs are retained by default for 30 days (or 400 days for some logs with the default retention in the _Required bucket). To retain logs for longer, you must create a log sink that exports logs to Cloud Storage (or BigQuery). Enabling Access Transparency logs is good but not necessary for retention. Adjusting the retention period in the Logs Explorer is not possible; Logs Explorer only queries logs within the retention period.
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.
- ✓
Create a log sink to export the logs to Cloud Storage.
Why this is correct
Log sinks allow exporting logs to Cloud Storage where retention policies can be set for longer periods.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable Access Transparency logs.
Why it's wrong here
Access Transparency logs add visibility into Google personnel access but do not extend retention.
- ✗
Set a retention policy on the Cloud SQL instance.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL instances have automated backups, but audit logs are separate and require log sinks for long-term retention.
- ✗
Adjust the retention period in the Logs Explorer to 1 year.
Why it's wrong here
Logs Explorer does not allow changing retention; default retention is 30 days for most logs.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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
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Supporting Compliance Requirements practice questions
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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: Create a log sink to export the logs to Cloud Storage. — Cloud Audit Logs are retained by default for 30 days (or 400 days for some logs with the default retention in the _Required bucket). To retain logs for longer, you must create a log sink that exports logs to Cloud Storage (or BigQuery). Enabling Access Transparency logs is good but not necessary for retention. Adjusting the retention period in the Logs Explorer is not possible; Logs Explorer only queries logs within the retention period.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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