- A
Configure Cloud Armor to allow only traffic from the IP ranges used by IAP
Why wrong: IAP does not use specific IP ranges; it works at the application layer.
- B
Create a Cloud Armor security policy that requires a valid JWT token signed by IAP
Why wrong: IAP itself validates the token; Cloud Armor does not need to do this.
- C
No additional configuration is needed; IAP already blocks unauthenticated requests
IAP intercepts requests before they reach Cloud Armor and rejects unauthenticated ones.
- D
Set a firewall rule on the backend instances to allow traffic only from the load balancer's health check IPs
Why wrong: This is for network-level access, not user authentication.
Question 333 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. 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.
An engineer is configuring Cloud Armor for an HTTP(S) load balancer and needs to allow traffic only from users who have been authenticated by Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP). The backend service already has IAP enabled. What additional configuration is needed to ensure that only authenticated requests reach the backend?
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
✓
No additional configuration is needed; IAP already blocks unauthenticated requests
Option C is correct because when IAP is enabled on a backend service, it intercepts all requests and blocks unauthenticated traffic before it reaches the backend. Cloud Armor operates at the edge, but since IAP already enforces authentication at the application layer, no additional Cloud Armor configuration is required to restrict access to authenticated users. The load balancer forwards only requests that have passed IAP authentication to the backend.
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.
- ✗
Configure Cloud Armor to allow only traffic from the IP ranges used by IAP
Why it's wrong here
IAP does not use specific IP ranges; it works at the application layer.
- ✗
Create a Cloud Armor security policy that requires a valid JWT token signed by IAP
Why it's wrong here
IAP itself validates the token; Cloud Armor does not need to do this.
- ✓
No additional configuration is needed; IAP already blocks unauthenticated requests
Why this is correct
IAP intercepts requests before they reach Cloud Armor and rejects unauthenticated ones.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set a firewall rule on the backend instances to allow traffic only from the load balancer's health check IPs
Why it's wrong here
This is for network-level access, not user authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates overthink the question and assume Cloud Armor must be explicitly configured to work with IAP, when in fact IAP independently blocks unauthenticated traffic at the load balancer level, making additional Cloud Armor rules unnecessary for this specific requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAP works by intercepting requests at the Google Cloud load balancer and redirecting unauthenticated users to Google's OAuth 2.0 authentication flow. Once authenticated, IAP sets a signed JWT cookie or passes the identity in a header (X-Goog-Authenticated-User-Email) to the backend, but Cloud Armor cannot inspect these headers for authentication enforcement. In a real-world scenario, if you need additional access controls beyond authentication (e.g., geographic restrictions for authenticated users), you would combine Cloud Armor with IAP, but for simply ensuring only authenticated requests reach the backend, IAP alone suffices.
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.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
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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: No additional configuration is needed; IAP already blocks unauthenticated requests — Option C is correct because when IAP is enabled on a backend service, it intercepts all requests and blocks unauthenticated traffic before it reaches the backend. Cloud Armor operates at the edge, but since IAP already enforces authentication at the application layer, no additional Cloud Armor configuration is required to restrict access to authenticated users. The load balancer forwards only requests that have passed IAP authentication to the backend.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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