This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of ensuring data protection. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. Based on the exhibit, the corporate security policy requires that all Cloud KMS symmetric keys have automatic rotation enabled. Which statement is true?
Both keys are compliant.
Why wrong: Decryption-key lacks rotation period.
Neither key is compliant.
Why wrong: Encryption-key has rotation.
Only the encryption-key is compliant.
Encryption-key has a rotation period; decryption-key does not.
Only the decryption-key is compliant.
Why wrong: Decryption-key has no rotation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Only the encryption-key is compliant.
The corporate security policy requires automatic rotation for all Cloud KMS symmetric keys. In the exhibit, the 'encryption-key' has automatic rotation enabled (as indicated by the rotation period being set), while the 'decryption-key' does not have automatic rotation enabled (rotation period is not set or is disabled). Therefore, only the encryption-key is compliant with the policy.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Both keys are compliant.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption-key lacks rotation period.
Neither key is compliant.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption-key has rotation.
Only the encryption-key is compliant.
Why this is correct
Encryption-key has a rotation period; decryption-key does not.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Only the decryption-key is compliant.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption-key has no rotation.
Common exam traps
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between keys that have rotation enabled versus those that are simply created with a rotation period set to a non-zero value, tricking candidates into assuming all keys in a key ring are automatically rotated.
Detailed technical explanation
In Google Cloud KMS, automatic rotation for symmetric keys is configured by setting a rotation period (e.g., 30d, 90d) on the key version. When rotation is enabled, Cloud KMS automatically creates a new primary key version at the specified interval. The decryption-key in the exhibit likely has a rotation period of '0' or is not set, meaning it will never rotate automatically, violating the policy. This is critical for compliance with standards like PCI DSS or SOC 2 that mandate periodic key rotation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Ensuring data protection — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Ensuring data protection — This question tests Ensuring data protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Only the encryption-key is compliant. — The corporate security policy requires automatic rotation for all Cloud KMS symmetric keys. In the exhibit, the 'encryption-key' has automatic rotation enabled (as indicated by the rotation period being set), while the 'decryption-key' does not have automatic rotation enabled (rotation period is not set or is disabled). Therefore, only the encryption-key is compliant with the policy.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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