- A
Enable Cloud Audit Logs with export to a BigQuery dataset in the EU region.
Why wrong: Audit logs track activity but do not prevent data from leaving the EU.
- B
Use Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to scan for sensitive data and verify it remains in the EU.
Why wrong: DLP identifies and classifies data but does not enforce geographic restrictions.
- C
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) stored in a Cloud KMS key ring located in the EU.
Why wrong: CMEK controls encryption keys but does not restrict where data is stored or processed.
- D
Define an Organization Policy with constraints/gcp.resourceLocations to allow resource creation only in EU regions.
This directly enforces data location by restricting resource deployment to approved regions.
- E
Set up VPC Service Controls to create a service perimeter that includes only EU regions.
VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration by controlling access and movement across perimeters.
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 multinational company is migrating sensitive workloads to Google Cloud and must comply with GDPR data residency requirements. Which TWO actions ensure data remains stored only within the European Union? (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
Define an Organization Policy with constraints/gcp.resourceLocations to allow resource creation only in EU regions.
Option D is correct because the Organization Policy constraint `gcp.resourceLocations` explicitly restricts the Google Cloud regions where resources can be created. By setting this constraint to allow only EU regions (e.g., `europe-west1`, `europe-west4`), you enforce that all new resources are provisioned within the European Union, directly meeting GDPR data residency requirements. This policy is evaluated at resource creation time and prevents any resource from being deployed outside the allowed locations.
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 Audit Logs with export to a BigQuery dataset in the EU region.
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs track activity but do not prevent data from leaving the EU.
- ✗
Use Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to scan for sensitive data and verify it remains in the EU.
Why it's wrong here
DLP identifies and classifies data but does not enforce geographic restrictions.
- ✗
Use Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) stored in a Cloud KMS key ring located in the EU.
Why it's wrong here
CMEK controls encryption keys but does not restrict where data is stored or processed.
- ✓
Define an Organization Policy with constraints/gcp.resourceLocations to allow resource creation only in EU regions.
Why this is correct
This directly enforces data location by restricting resource deployment to approved regions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Set up VPC Service Controls to create a service perimeter that includes only EU regions.
Why this is correct
VPC Service Controls prevent data exfiltration by controlling access and movement across perimeters.
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 data residency enforcement (which requires location-based constraints like Organization Policies or VPC Service Controls) and data protection mechanisms (like encryption, logging, or scanning), leading candidates to mistakenly choose options that protect data but do not control where it is stored.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `gcp.resourceLocations` constraint is a list-based policy that uses the `resourcemanager.googleapis.com` service to evaluate region codes against the IAM policy hierarchy. When a resource creation request is made, the Organization Policy service checks the resource's location against the allowed list; if the region is not in the list, the request is denied with a `CONDITION_NOT_MET` error. This constraint applies to over 100 Google Cloud services, including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, and BigQuery, but note that some global resources (e.g., global load balancers) may be exempt, requiring additional controls like VPC Service Controls for complete coverage.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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: Define an Organization Policy with constraints/gcp.resourceLocations to allow resource creation only in EU regions. — Option D is correct because the Organization Policy constraint `gcp.resourceLocations` explicitly restricts the Google Cloud regions where resources can be created. By setting this constraint to allow only EU regions (e.g., `europe-west1`, `europe-west4`), you enforce that all new resources are provisioned within the European Union, directly meeting GDPR data residency requirements. This policy is evaluated at resource creation time and prevents any resource from being deployed outside the allowed locations.
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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