- A
Allow rule: direction EGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted'
Why wrong: An egress rule controls outbound traffic, not inbound SSH.
- B
Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target service account 'ssh-restricted'
Why wrong: Service accounts are not used as targets in firewall rules; tags are used.
- C
Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted'
This correctly denies inbound SSH to VMs with the specified tag.
- D
Allow rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, source tag 'ssh-restricted'
Why wrong: An allow rule would permit SSH, not block it.
Question 724 of 985
PCSE Configuring Network Security Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network security. 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 organization needs to block all inbound SSH traffic (port 22) to a set of VM instances that have a common tag 'ssh-restricted'. They want to deny this traffic at the VPC firewall level. Which firewall rule configuration should they use?
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
✓
Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted'
To block SSH, a deny rule with direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, and target tag 'ssh-restricted' is needed.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Allow rule: direction EGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted'
Why it's wrong here
An egress rule controls outbound traffic, not inbound SSH.
- ✗
Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target service account 'ssh-restricted'
Why it's wrong here
Service accounts are not used as targets in firewall rules; tags are used.
- ✓
Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted'
Why this is correct
This correctly denies inbound SSH to VMs with the specified tag.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Allow rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, source tag 'ssh-restricted'
Why it's wrong here
An allow rule would permit SSH, not block it.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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Configuring Network Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Network Security — This question tests Configuring Network Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deny rule: direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, target tag 'ssh-restricted' — To block SSH, a deny rule with direction INGRESS, protocol tcp, port 22, and target tag 'ssh-restricted' is needed.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCSE ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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