- A
Use VPC Service Controls to restrict access to BigQuery datasets, and use IAM conditions to limit column access.
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls do not provide column-level encryption.
- B
Use Cloud HSM to create encryption keys and apply them to BigQuery tables using Cloud Key Management Service.
Why wrong: Cloud HSM is used for key management, but column-level encryption requires CMEK with keys in Cloud KMS.
- C
Use Cloud Data Loss Prevention to de-identify sensitive columns, and then use IAM to control access.
Why wrong: Data Loss Prevention de-identifies data, but does not provide encryption for querying.
- D
Use BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK keys, and grant access via Authorized Views.
This combination ensures encryption and fine-grained access control.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK and grant access via Authorized Views. This combination works because column-level encryption with CMEK ensures patient data is encrypted at rest using customer-managed keys, while BigQuery enforces TLS encryption for data in transit, meeting both encryption requirements. Authorized Views then provide the necessary fine-grained access control by allowing users to query only specific decrypted columns without ever exposing the underlying encrypted data or the CMEK keys to unauthorized users. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to layer encryption and access control without redundancy—a common trap is choosing IAM table-level permissions alone, which cannot restrict access to specific columns. Remember the key distinction: CMEK handles encryption, Authorized Views handle access. Memory tip: “CMEK locks the data, Authorized Views unlock only what’s needed.”
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 uses BigQuery to store patient data with column-level encryption using CMEK. They need to ensure that data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and that only authorized users can query specific columns. Which combination of controls 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
Use BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK keys, and grant access via Authorized Views.
Option D is correct because BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK ensures data is encrypted at rest using customer-managed keys, while Authorized Views provide row- and column-level access control without exposing the underlying encrypted columns to unauthorized users. This combination satisfies both encryption requirements (at rest and in transit, as BigQuery enforces TLS in transit) and fine-grained access control for specific columns.
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.
- ✗
Use VPC Service Controls to restrict access to BigQuery datasets, and use IAM conditions to limit column access.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls do not provide column-level encryption.
- ✗
Use Cloud HSM to create encryption keys and apply them to BigQuery tables using Cloud Key Management Service.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM is used for key management, but column-level encryption requires CMEK with keys in Cloud KMS.
- ✗
Use Cloud Data Loss Prevention to de-identify sensitive columns, and then use IAM to control access.
Why it's wrong here
Data Loss Prevention de-identifies data, but does not provide encryption for querying.
- ✓
Use BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK keys, and grant access via Authorized Views.
Why this is correct
This combination ensures encryption and fine-grained access control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse column-level encryption with table-level encryption or de-identification, and fail to recognize that Authorized Views are the only mechanism in BigQuery that can enforce column-level access control on encrypted columns without exposing the underlying data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BigQuery column-level encryption uses CMEK keys stored in Cloud KMS to encrypt individual columns at the storage layer, with each column having its own encryption key that is decrypted only when queried by authorized users. Authorized Views are a BigQuery-native feature that allows you to create a view over encrypted columns and grant access to the view rather than the underlying table, ensuring that users never see the raw encrypted data or the encryption keys. In practice, this means the encryption key is never exposed to the client, and TLS 1.2+ protects data in transit between the client and BigQuery.
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.
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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: Use BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK keys, and grant access via Authorized Views. — Option D is correct because BigQuery column-level encryption with CMEK ensures data is encrypted at rest using customer-managed keys, while Authorized Views provide row- and column-level access control without exposing the underlying encrypted columns to unauthorized users. This combination satisfies both encryption requirements (at rest and in transit, as BigQuery enforces TLS in transit) and fine-grained access control for specific columns.
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 11, 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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