- A
Use the built-in constraint constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation and write a custom organization policy to enforce key rotation (max age 90 days).
The built-in constraint prevents new keys; a custom constraint can enforce rotation on existing keys.
- B
Use a deny policy to deny the permission iam.serviceAccountKeys.create and another deny policy to deny use of keys older than 90 days.
Why wrong: Deny policies can block creation but cannot block use of existing keys based on age.
- C
Use a custom organization policy constraint to disable key creation and another custom constraint to delete keys older than 90 days.
Why wrong: No built-in constraint deletes keys; custom constraints can enforce rotation but not delete keys automatically.
- D
Use a VPC Service Controls perimeter to block access to the IAM API for creating keys.
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls restrict data exfiltration, not IAM key creation.
PCSE Practice Question: Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring access within 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 engineer needs to prevent creation of long-lived service account keys across all projects in an organization. The solution should also block any existing keys older than 90 days. Which approach meets these requirements?
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 the built-in constraint constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation and write a custom organization policy to enforce key rotation (max age 90 days).
Option A is correct because the built-in constraint `constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` prevents the creation of new long-lived keys, and a custom organization policy with a condition like `resource.serviceAccountKey.expireTime < duration(90d)` enforces automatic rotation, effectively blocking keys older than 90 days. This combination directly addresses both requirements without manual intervention or deletion.
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 the built-in constraint constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation and write a custom organization policy to enforce key rotation (max age 90 days).
Why this is correct
The built-in constraint prevents new keys; a custom constraint can enforce rotation on existing keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a deny policy to deny the permission iam.serviceAccountKeys.create and another deny policy to deny use of keys older than 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Deny policies can block creation but cannot block use of existing keys based on age.
- ✗
Use a custom organization policy constraint to disable key creation and another custom constraint to delete keys older than 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
No built-in constraint deletes keys; custom constraints can enforce rotation but not delete keys automatically.
- ✗
Use a VPC Service Controls perimeter to block access to the IAM API for creating keys.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls restrict data exfiltration, not IAM key creation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that custom organization policies can delete existing resources, when in reality they only enforce conditions on new resource creation or updates, not retroactive actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` is a list constraint that, when set to `All`, blocks all service account key creation. The custom policy uses the `resource.serviceAccountKey.expireTime` attribute with a `duration(90d)` condition to reject keys with a lifetime exceeding 90 days, leveraging the IAM key expiration feature introduced in 2020. This approach ensures that any attempt to create a key with a longer lifetime is denied at the API level, and existing keys older than 90 days are effectively blocked because they cannot be used without being recreated with a valid expiration.
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?
Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — This question tests Configuring Access Within a Cloud Solution Environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the built-in constraint constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation and write a custom organization policy to enforce key rotation (max age 90 days). — Option A is correct because the built-in constraint `constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` prevents the creation of new long-lived keys, and a custom organization policy with a condition like `resource.serviceAccountKey.expireTime < duration(90d)` enforces automatic rotation, effectively blocking keys older than 90 days. This combination directly addresses both requirements without manual intervention or deletion.
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: Jul 4, 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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