- A
Deploy a VPN between the IdP and Google Cloud
Why wrong: VPN is not required for SSO or IAP; it's for network connectivity.
- B
Create a service account for each user to access the application
Why wrong: Service accounts are for non-human identities, not end users.
- C
Create a Cloud Armor security policy to allow only SAML-authenticated requests
Why wrong: Cloud Armor does not handle SAML authentication; it is for WAF and DDoS protection.
- D
Enable IAP on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer
IAP integrates with Cloud Identity to authenticate users before granting access to the application.
- E
Configure SAML 2.0 SSO in the Cloud Identity console for the organization
This enables users to log in to Google Cloud Console using their corporate credentials.
Question 665 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 organization uses Cloud Identity with SAML 2.0 federation. They want to enable single sign-on (SSO) for users accessing Google Cloud Console and also allow access to a custom application behind an HTTPS load balancer using IAP. Which TWO configurations are required? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Enable IAP on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer
Option D is correct because Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) must be enabled on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer to enforce access control based on the user's identity. IAP uses the SAML assertion from Cloud Identity to verify the user's identity and grant access to the custom application, enabling SSO without requiring a VPN or per-user 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.
- ✗
Deploy a VPN between the IdP and Google Cloud
Why it's wrong here
VPN is not required for SSO or IAP; it's for network connectivity.
- ✗
Create a service account for each user to access the application
Why it's wrong here
Service accounts are for non-human identities, not end users.
- ✗
Create a Cloud Armor security policy to allow only SAML-authenticated requests
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor does not handle SAML authentication; it is for WAF and DDoS protection.
- ✓
Enable IAP on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer
Why this is correct
IAP integrates with Cloud Identity to authenticate users before granting access to the application.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure SAML 2.0 SSO in the Cloud Identity console for the organization
Why this is correct
This enables users to log in to Google Cloud Console using their corporate credentials.
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 misconception that IAP requires a VPN or that service accounts can be used for user authentication, but the correct approach is to enable IAP on the backend service and configure SAML SSO in Cloud Identity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAP works by intercepting requests to the load balancer, extracting the user's identity from the SAML assertion (via Cloud Identity), and then applying access policies based on that identity. The SAML 2.0 federation in Cloud Identity establishes a trust relationship with the external IdP, allowing users to authenticate once and access both Google Cloud Console and IAP-protected applications without re-authentication. Under the hood, IAP uses the Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy service to generate a session cookie after successful SAML authentication, which is then validated on subsequent requests.
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: Enable IAP on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer — Option D is correct because Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) must be enabled on the backend service of the HTTPS load balancer to enforce access control based on the user's identity. IAP uses the SAML assertion from Cloud Identity to verify the user's identity and grant access to the custom application, enabling SSO without requiring a VPN or per-user 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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