- A
Enable Access Transparency logs and set up alerts for any direct access to Cloud Storage.
Why wrong: Logging alerts only detect, not prevent, the issue.
- B
Use DLP API to automatically de-identify data in Cloud Storage before BigQuery reads it.
Why wrong: DLP does not prevent direct access; it transforms data but runs on demand.
- C
Use IAM conditions to restrict access to the Cloud Storage bucket only from the service account used by the pipeline.
Why wrong: IAM conditions can restrict access, but if the data engineer uses that service account, they can still access.
- D
Create a VPC Service Control perimeter around the pipeline project, and use an organization policy to require that Cloud Storage buckets be in a perimeter.
VPC Service Controls block direct access from BigQuery to Cloud Storage unless both are in the same perimeter.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a VPC Service Control perimeter around the pipeline project and use an organization policy requiring Cloud Storage buckets to be in a perimeter. This works because VPC Service Controls prevent direct PHI access to BigQuery by blocking any data exfiltration or unauthorized reads from Cloud Storage unless the request originates from within the defined security perimeter, effectively forcing all queries to go through the de-identification pipeline. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to enforce data access boundaries in a HIPAA-compliant environment, often appearing as a distractor where candidates mistakenly choose IAM or bucket-level policies alone. A common trap is forgetting that VPC Service Controls apply at the service level, not just the resource level, so new datasets are automatically restricted by the org policy. Memory tip: think of the perimeter as a “no-fly zone” for direct PHI—only the pipeline has clearance to cross it.
PCSE Supporting compliance requirements Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of supporting compliance requirements. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 startup is using Google Cloud to process Protected Health Information (PHI) for a clinical study. They are HIPAA-compliant and use Cloud Storage with CMEK. They also use BigQuery to run analytics on de-identified data. The security team notices that some PHI data appears in BigQuery query results. Upon investigation, they find that a data engineer created a BigQuery table that directly references the Cloud Storage bucket containing PHI without using the de-identification pipeline. The startup needs to prevent any direct access to Cloud Storage from BigQuery unless it goes through the pipeline. They also need to ensure that any new datasets are automatically subject to the same restrictions. What should they do?
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 VPC Service Control perimeter around the pipeline project, and use an organization policy to require that Cloud Storage buckets be in a perimeter.
Option D is correct because VPC Service Controls create a security perimeter around the pipeline project, preventing data exfiltration and unauthorized access to Cloud Storage from BigQuery unless the request originates from within the perimeter. The organization policy requiring Cloud Storage buckets to be in a perimeter ensures that any new datasets are automatically subject to the same restrictions, enforcing the de-identification pipeline as the only allowed path.
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 Access Transparency logs and set up alerts for any direct access to Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Logging alerts only detect, not prevent, the issue.
- ✗
Use DLP API to automatically de-identify data in Cloud Storage before BigQuery reads it.
Why it's wrong here
DLP does not prevent direct access; it transforms data but runs on demand.
- ✗
Use IAM conditions to restrict access to the Cloud Storage bucket only from the service account used by the pipeline.
Why it's wrong here
IAM conditions can restrict access, but if the data engineer uses that service account, they can still access.
- ✓
Create a VPC Service Control perimeter around the pipeline project, and use an organization policy to require that Cloud Storage buckets be in a perimeter.
Why this is correct
VPC Service Controls block direct access from BigQuery to Cloud Storage unless both are in the same perimeter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between detective controls (logging) and preventive controls (perimeters), leading candidates to choose logging or IAM-based solutions that cannot enforce the 'no direct access' requirement across all new datasets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Service Controls use a perimeter to isolate Google Cloud services, blocking unauthorized access from outside the perimeter via context-aware access policies. The organization policy constraint `constraints/gcp.restrictServiceUsage` can enforce that Cloud Storage buckets must be created within a VPC SC perimeter, ensuring new buckets inherit the restriction. This prevents BigQuery from directly reading PHI from Cloud Storage unless the query originates from a service within the perimeter that has explicit egress rules.
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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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 VPC Service Control perimeter around the pipeline project, and use an organization policy to require that Cloud Storage buckets be in a perimeter. — Option D is correct because VPC Service Controls create a security perimeter around the pipeline project, preventing data exfiltration and unauthorized access to Cloud Storage from BigQuery unless the request originates from within the perimeter. The organization policy requiring Cloud Storage buckets to be in a perimeter ensures that any new datasets are automatically subject to the same restrictions, enforcing the de-identification pipeline as the only allowed path.
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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