- A
Remove the on-premises IP range from the project's allowed external IPs list in the VPC Service Controls configuration
Why wrong: There is no such setting; VPC Service Controls uses perimeters and access levels.
- B
Create a service perimeter in dry-run mode, then configure a firewall rule in the on-premises VPC to allow egress to BigQuery
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls does not use firewall rules for access control; dry-run mode is for monitoring, not enforcement.
- C
Create a service perimeter with restricted services including BigQuery. Add an ingress rule that allows access from the identity group containing the on-premises users, with source IP range 203.0.113.0/24 in the access level
Why wrong: Ingress rules specify source identities or VPCs, but to allow on-premises IPs, you need to use an access level, not an identity group.
- D
Create a service perimeter with restricted services, create an access level with IP condition 203.0.113.0/24, and add an ingress rule that allows access from the access level to all identities
This correctly uses an access level for IP restriction and an ingress rule to allow that access level into the perimeter.
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.
You are designing a VPC Service Controls perimeter to protect a project containing BigQuery datasets accessible from a data analytics VPC. You need to allow a specific set of on-premises users (identified by IP range 203.0.113.0/24) to query BigQuery from outside the perimeter, but block all other external access. What is the correct configuration?
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
Create a service perimeter with restricted services, create an access level with IP condition 203.0.113.0/24, and add an ingress rule that allows access from the access level to all identities
VPC Service Controls uses access levels for IP-based restrictions. To allow external access from a specific IP range, you create an access level that includes that IP range, then define an ingress rule in the service perimeter that grants access to that access level. Dry-run mode is for testing, not production enforcement.
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.
- ✗
Remove the on-premises IP range from the project's allowed external IPs list in the VPC Service Controls configuration
Why it's wrong here
There is no such setting; VPC Service Controls uses perimeters and access levels.
- ✗
Create a service perimeter in dry-run mode, then configure a firewall rule in the on-premises VPC to allow egress to BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls does not use firewall rules for access control; dry-run mode is for monitoring, not enforcement.
- ✗
Create a service perimeter with restricted services including BigQuery. Add an ingress rule that allows access from the identity group containing the on-premises users, with source IP range 203.0.113.0/24 in the access level
Why it's wrong here
Ingress rules specify source identities or VPCs, but to allow on-premises IPs, you need to use an access level, not an identity group.
- ✓
Create a service perimeter with restricted services, create an access level with IP condition 203.0.113.0/24, and add an ingress rule that allows access from the access level to all identities
Why this is correct
This correctly uses an access level for IP restriction and an ingress rule to allow that access level into the perimeter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Configuring Network Security — This question tests Configuring Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a service perimeter with restricted services, create an access level with IP condition 203.0.113.0/24, and add an ingress rule that allows access from the access level to all identities — VPC Service Controls uses access levels for IP-based restrictions. To allow external access from a specific IP range, you create an access level that includes that IP range, then define an ingress rule in the service perimeter that grants access to that access level. Dry-run mode is for testing, not production enforcement.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Identify which PCSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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