Quick Answer
The answer is the Organization Policy Service. This is correct because Organization Policies allow you to enforce constraints at the project, folder, or organization level, and the specific constraint `iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` can be combined with a custom constraint to automatically disable old service account keys older than 90 days, directly addressing the need to reduce key compromise risk. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this tests your understanding of how Organization Policies provide lifecycle governance beyond IAM’s basic permissions—a common trap is confusing IAM roles with policy enforcement, or thinking Secret Manager or Cloud KMS handles key rotation, which they do not. Remember the memory tip: “Org Policy is the cop, IAM is the keyholder”—the policy enforces the rules, while IAM only grants access.
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of managing operations in a cloud solution environment. 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 security administrator needs to ensure that all service account keys older than 90 days are automatically disabled to reduce the risk of key compromise. Which Google Cloud service should be used to implement this policy?
Cloud Secret Manager
Why wrong: Secret Manager stores secrets, not service account keys.
Organization Policy Service
Organization policies can set constraints like 'Disable automatic key creation' and 'Key expiry duration'.
Cloud IAM
Why wrong: IAM manages permissions, not key lifecycle.
Cloud Key Management Service
Why wrong: KMS manages cryptographic keys, not service account keys.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Organization Policy Service
Option D is correct because Organization Policies can enforce constraints like disabling automatic key creation or setting key expiration. Option A is incorrect because IAM itself does not have lifecycle policies. Option B is incorrect because Secret Manager does not manage service account keys. Option C is incorrect because Cloud Key Management Service does not manage service account keys.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud Secret Manager
Why it's wrong here
Secret Manager stores secrets, not service account keys.
Organization Policy Service
Why this is correct
Organization policies can set constraints like 'Disable automatic key creation' and 'Key expiry duration'.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cloud IAM
Why it's wrong here
IAM manages permissions, not key lifecycle.
Cloud Key Management Service
Why it's wrong here
KMS manages cryptographic keys, not service account keys.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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.
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PCSE questions
500 questions across all exam domains
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PCSE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring network security.
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring access within a cloud solution environment.
Practise PCSE questions linked to Ensuring data protection.
Practise PCSE questions linked to Managing operations in a cloud solution environment.
Practise PCSE questions linked to Supporting compliance requirements.
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE fundamentals.
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE scenario.
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment — This question tests Managing operations in a cloud solution environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Organization Policy Service — Option D is correct because Organization Policies can enforce constraints like disabling automatic key creation or setting key expiration. Option A is incorrect because IAM itself does not have lifecycle policies. Option B is incorrect because Secret Manager does not manage service account keys. Option C is incorrect because Cloud Key Management Service does not manage service account keys.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.