The answer is the IAM condition `resource.name == "projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/us-central1/subnetworks/SUBNET"`. This is correct because IAM conditions for Compute Engine resources use the `resource.name` attribute to match the full resource name of the subnet, which must include the region path to uniquely identify the subnet within the project. The `compute.instanceAdmin` role binding with this condition enforces that a user can only create virtual machines in that specific subnet, as the condition is evaluated at instance creation time against the subnet resource name. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this tests your understanding of resource-scoped IAM conditions versus resource hierarchy conditions—a common trap is using `resource.matchTag` or omitting the region, which would either fail to restrict the subnet or match incorrectly. Remember the memory tip: “Full path, no slash—subnet needs its region hash.”
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.
An administrator wants to enforce that a user can only create virtual machines in a specific subnet of a VPC network. What IAM condition should be added to the compute.instanceAdmin role binding?
Option A is correct because the IAM condition `resource.name` with the full resource name of the subnet (including the region) is the proper way to restrict virtual machine creation to a specific subnet. The `compute.instanceAdmin` role binding with this condition ensures that the user can only create instances whose subnet matches the specified resource name, enforcing the subnet-level constraint.
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.
The attribute 'resource.subnetwork' is not valid; use 'resource.name' with full path.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between the correct IAM condition attribute (`resource.name`) and incorrect ones like `resource.subnetwork` or zone-based attributes, exploiting the common misconception that subnet restrictions can be applied via zone or subnet name alone without the full hierarchical resource path.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAM conditions use Common Expression Language (CEL) to evaluate attributes like `resource.name`, which for Compute Engine resources follows the format `projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/subnetworks/SUBNET_NAME`. The `compute.instanceAdmin` role grants permissions to create instances, and adding a condition on `resource.name` restricts the `instances.insert` API call to only allow subnets matching that exact resource path. This is critical in multi-tenant environments where you need to enforce network segmentation without granting broader VPC permissions.
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.
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: resource.name == "projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/us-central1/subnetworks/SUBNET" — Option A is correct because the IAM condition `resource.name` with the full resource name of the subnet (including the region) is the proper way to restrict virtual machine creation to a specific subnet. The `compute.instanceAdmin` role binding with this condition ensures that the user can only create instances whose subnet matches the specified resource name, enforcing the subnet-level constraint.
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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Question Discussion
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