- A
Apply a de-identification template that uses the 'redact' transformation on the identified SSNs.
Redact removes the detected sensitive data from the output.
- B
Use the built-in infoType detector US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER to identify SSNs.
This detector is designed to find SSN patterns.
- C
Configure Access Transparency logs to track who accesses the objects.
Why wrong: Access Transparency logs provide audit trail, not data redaction.
- D
Encrypt the objects with a CMEK key before running the DLP inspection.
Why wrong: Encryption protects data at rest but does not redact SSNs; DLP operates on decrypted content.
- E
Enable VPC Service Controls to prevent unauthorized access to the bucket.
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls restrict network access but do not perform content redaction.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use the built-in infoType detector US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER to identify SSNs and apply a de-identification template configured with a redact transformation. This is correct because Cloud DLP de-identification templates allow you to define a specific transformation, such as redaction, which completely removes matched sensitive data like SSNs from the content, ensuring the output files shared with the research partner contain no trace of the original identifiers. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to pair infoType detectors with transformation actions within a DLP job configuration; a common trap is confusing redaction with masking or tokenization, which preserve some structure or mapping. Remember that redaction is the only transformation that fully eliminates the matched data, making it ideal for strict privacy requirements like sharing de-identified patient records. A useful memory tip is "Redact removes every fact" — if the goal is to completely strip SSNs, choose redact, not replace or mask.
PCSE Ensuring data protection Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of ensuring data protection. 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 healthcare organization needs to redact Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from patient records stored in Cloud Storage before sharing them with a research partner. They plan to use Cloud DLP. Which TWO actions should they take to configure the DLP job correctly? (Choose two.)
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
Apply a de-identification template that uses the 'redact' transformation on the identified SSNs.
Option A is correct because Cloud DLP de-identification templates allow you to specify a 'redact' transformation that completely removes or replaces the matched sensitive data, such as SSNs, from the content. This ensures that the output files shared with the research partner contain no trace of the original SSNs, meeting the redaction requirement.
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.
- ✓
Apply a de-identification template that uses the 'redact' transformation on the identified SSNs.
Why this is correct
Redact removes the detected sensitive data from the output.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use the built-in infoType detector US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER to identify SSNs.
Why this is correct
This detector is designed to find SSN patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure Access Transparency logs to track who accesses the objects.
Why it's wrong here
Access Transparency logs provide audit trail, not data redaction.
- ✗
Encrypt the objects with a CMEK key before running the DLP inspection.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data at rest but does not redact SSNs; DLP operates on decrypted content.
- ✗
Enable VPC Service Controls to prevent unauthorized access to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls restrict network access but do not perform content redaction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between data-level de-identification (DLP transformations) and infrastructure-level security controls (encryption, VPC Service Controls, logging), leading candidates to select options that protect the data at rest or in transit but do not actually redact the sensitive content.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud DLP uses infoType detectors like US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER to match patterns (e.g., XXX-XX-XXXX format) and can apply transformations such as 'redact' which replaces the matched value with an empty string or a placeholder. Under the hood, the de-identification template is applied during the InspectJob or DeidentifyJob, and the redaction occurs before the output is written to the destination Cloud Storage bucket. A real-world scenario is when healthcare data must comply with HIPAA Safe Harbor, requiring complete removal of SSNs before sharing with third parties.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Apply a de-identification template that uses the 'redact' transformation on the identified SSNs. — Option A is correct because Cloud DLP de-identification templates allow you to specify a 'redact' transformation that completely removes or replaces the matched sensitive data, such as SSNs, from the content. This ensures that the output files shared with the research partner contain no trace of the original SSNs, meeting the redaction requirement.
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.
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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