- A
Set up Private Google Access for the on-premises network and route all traffic through a VPN tunnel.
Why wrong: This allows access but does not enforce access only from within the VPC perimeter.
- B
Configure an Organization Policy that restricts BigQuery access to only service accounts with a specific prefix.
Why wrong: This restricts based on service account, not network location.
- C
Enable VPC Service Controls perimeters for the BigQuery API and ensure that the project containing the dataset is in the perimeter, and configure ingress/egress rules to allow only requests from within the perimeter.
VPC Service Controls can enforce network-based access restrictions.
- D
Use Cloud IAP to require users to authenticate before accessing BigQuery.
Why wrong: IAP is for HTTP-based access, not BigQuery API.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable VPC Service Controls perimeters for the BigQuery API and ensure the project containing the dataset is inside the perimeter, with ingress/egress rules configured to allow only requests from within that perimeter. This works because VPC Service Controls create a security boundary at the Google Cloud edge, intercepting API calls before they reach BigQuery; even a service account with the BigQuery Data Viewer role is blocked if the request originates from a non-compliant network, effectively preventing data exfiltration. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding that VPC Service Controls enforce access based on network context, not just IAM roles—a common trap is assuming IAM alone suffices for perimeter security. Remember that VPC Service Controls act as a gatekeeper at the API layer, not the data layer, so the key is placing the project inside the perimeter and explicitly allowing only trusted networks. A useful memory tip is “Perimeter first, IAM second”—VPC Service Controls block before IAM even evaluates the request.
PCSE Supporting compliance requirements Practice Question
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of supporting compliance requirements. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 large healthcare organization is migrating its on-premises data center to Google Cloud. The organization must comply with HIPAA and has signed a BAA with Google Cloud. They plan to use BigQuery for analytics on PHI data. The security team has enabled encryption at rest with CMEK and has configured VPC Service Controls to prevent data exfiltration. During a penetration test, the testers discovered that they could query the BigQuery dataset using a service account that has BigQuery Data Viewer role from a non-VPC-SC-compliant network. This could allow unauthorized access to PHI data. The team needs to restrict all access to the BigQuery dataset to only originate from within the VPC perimeter defined by VPC Service Controls. What should the team do to enforce this requirement?
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 VPC Service Controls perimeters for the BigQuery API and ensure that the project containing the dataset is in the perimeter, and configure ingress/egress rules to allow only requests from within the perimeter.
Option C is correct because VPC Service Controls are specifically designed to create a security perimeter around Google Cloud services like BigQuery, preventing data exfiltration and restricting access to only requests originating from within the defined perimeter. By placing the project containing the BigQuery dataset inside the VPC Service Controls perimeter and configuring ingress/egress rules, the team ensures that even a service account with BigQuery Data Viewer role cannot query the dataset from a non-VPC-SC-compliant network, as the API call is blocked at the Google Cloud edge before it reaches BigQuery.
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.
- ✗
Set up Private Google Access for the on-premises network and route all traffic through a VPN tunnel.
Why it's wrong here
This allows access but does not enforce access only from within the VPC perimeter.
- ✗
Configure an Organization Policy that restricts BigQuery access to only service accounts with a specific prefix.
Why it's wrong here
This restricts based on service account, not network location.
- ✓
Enable VPC Service Controls perimeters for the BigQuery API and ensure that the project containing the dataset is in the perimeter, and configure ingress/egress rules to allow only requests from within the perimeter.
Why this is correct
VPC Service Controls can enforce network-based access restrictions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud IAP to require users to authenticate before accessing BigQuery.
Why it's wrong here
IAP is for HTTP-based access, not BigQuery API.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between IAM-based access control (who can access) and network-based perimeter control (from where they can access), and the trap here is that candidates confuse VPC Service Controls with Private Google Access or IAP, thinking that private connectivity or identity verification alone can enforce network origin restrictions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Service Controls work by intercepting API calls at the Google Front End (GFE) and evaluating them against the perimeter's ingress and egress rules before the request reaches the service backend. When a service account with BigQuery Data Viewer role attempts to query a dataset from a non-perimeter network, the GFE rejects the request with a 403 error, even if the service account has valid credentials and IAM permissions. This mechanism is independent of IAM and provides a defense-in-depth layer that prevents data exfiltration even if a service account key is compromised, as long as the perimeter is correctly configured.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Supporting compliance requirements — This question tests Supporting compliance requirements — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable VPC Service Controls perimeters for the BigQuery API and ensure that the project containing the dataset is in the perimeter, and configure ingress/egress rules to allow only requests from within the perimeter. — Option C is correct because VPC Service Controls are specifically designed to create a security perimeter around Google Cloud services like BigQuery, preventing data exfiltration and restricting access to only requests originating from within the defined perimeter. By placing the project containing the BigQuery dataset inside the VPC Service Controls perimeter and configuring ingress/egress rules, the team ensures that even a service account with BigQuery Data Viewer role cannot query the dataset from a non-VPC-SC-compliant network, as the API call is blocked at the Google Cloud edge before it reaches BigQuery.
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: Jun 30, 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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