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 security engineer needs to configure Cloud KMS key rotation so that existing ciphertext can still be decrypted with old key versions, but new encryption uses the latest version. Which key management practice meets this requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set a rotation period on the key; Cloud KMS automatically creates new versions while old versions remain available for decryption.
Option A is correct because Cloud KMS supports key rotation by creating new key versions while retaining all previous versions. When you set a rotation period, Cloud KMS automatically generates a new version at the specified interval, and the key's primary version (used for new encryption) is updated. Old key versions remain enabled and available for decryption of existing ciphertext, ensuring that data encrypted with older versions can still be decrypted without manual intervention.
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.
✓
Set a rotation period on the key; Cloud KMS automatically creates new versions while old versions remain available for decryption.
Why this is correct
Cloud KMS key rotation creates new versions; old versions stay enabled for decryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a single key and manually update its material every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Manual update doesn't preserve old versions; re-encryption would be needed.
✗
Create a new key version manually and disable the previous version after a grace period.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the old version blocks decryption of data encrypted with it.
✗
Create a new key every rotation and delete the old key after confirming re-encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the old key makes existing ciphertext undecryptable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that key rotation requires manual management or that old key versions must be disabled or deleted to enforce security, but the correct practice is to retain old versions for decryption while using the latest version for new encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud KMS key versions are immutable cryptographic key materials that are never deleted unless explicitly destroyed (with a 24-hour scheduled destruction delay). When a key is rotated, the new version becomes the primary version used for encryption by default, but decryption operations automatically use the key version that was used to encrypt the ciphertext, as the ciphertext includes a key version identifier. This behavior is governed by the Cloud KMS API's CryptoKeyVersions resource, where each version has a state (enabled, disabled, destroyed) and a purpose (encrypt, decrypt).
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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: Set a rotation period on the key; Cloud KMS automatically creates new versions while old versions remain available for decryption. — Option A is correct because Cloud KMS supports key rotation by creating new key versions while retaining all previous versions. When you set a rotation period, Cloud KMS automatically generates a new version at the specified interval, and the key's primary version (used for new encryption) is updated. Old key versions remain enabled and available for decryption of existing ciphertext, ensuring that data encrypted with older versions can still be decrypted without manual intervention.
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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Question Discussion
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