- A
constraints/compute.restrictCloudArmorPolicies
Why wrong: This restricts Cloud Armor policies.
- B
constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm
Why wrong: This enforces Shielded VM on compute instances.
- C
constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains
Why wrong: This restricts which external domains can be members in IAM policies.
- D
constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation
Correct: Prevents creation of service account keys.
Question 576 of 985
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 wants to ensure that no IAM keys are created for service accounts in a Google Cloud organization. Which organization policy constraint should be applied?
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
✓
constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation
The correct answer is D because the `constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` organization policy constraint specifically prevents the creation of IAM keys for service accounts, which is exactly what the security engineer needs to enforce. This constraint, when applied at the organization level, blocks all users from creating or uploading service account keys, ensuring that no long-lived credentials are generated for service accounts.
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.
- ✗
constraints/compute.restrictCloudArmorPolicies
Why it's wrong here
This restricts Cloud Armor policies.
- ✗
constraints/compute.requireShieldedVm
Why it's wrong here
This enforces Shielded VM on compute instances.
- ✗
constraints/iam.allowedPolicyMemberDomains
Why it's wrong here
This restricts which external domains can be members in IAM policies.
- ✓
constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation
Why this is correct
Correct: Prevents creation of service account keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between constraints that control IAM policy membership (Option C) versus those that control service account key creation (Option D), leading candidates to confuse domain restrictions with key management policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the `iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` constraint is a boolean list constraint that, when set to `True`, blocks the `iam.serviceAccountKeys.create` and `iam.serviceAccountKeys.upload` permissions for all principals in the organization. This is critical in zero-trust environments where short-lived credentials (e.g., workload identity federation) are preferred over long-lived keys, as leaked service account keys are a common attack vector. Real-world scenarios include compliance frameworks like SOC 2 or PCI DSS that require automated rotation or elimination of static credentials.
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.
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?
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: constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation — The correct answer is D because the `constraints/iam.disableServiceAccountKeyCreation` organization policy constraint specifically prevents the creation of IAM keys for service accounts, which is exactly what the security engineer needs to enforce. This constraint, when applied at the organization level, blocks all users from creating or uploading service account keys, ensuring that no long-lived credentials are generated for service accounts.
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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