- A
Configure the log sinks to export logs to a Cloud Storage bucket with a lifecycle rule that deletes objects after 5 years. Set the bucket's IAM policy to deny the storage.objects.delete permission to all users except the security team.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Denying delete permissions is not foolproof; a user with storage.objectAdmin role can still delete objects. Also, lifecycle rules are for automatic deletion, not retention enforcement.
- B
Create a new BigQuery dataset in logging-project with a table expiration of 5 years and configure the log sinks to export to this dataset. Grant the security team the BigQuery Data Viewer role and revoke all other users' access to the dataset.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Table expiration only auto-deletes tables after 5 years but does not prevent manual deletion. Project administrators with dataset-level permissions could still delete the dataset.
- C
Create a new organization-level log sink that exports logs to a BigQuery dataset in logging-project. Grant the security team the BigQuery Data Owner role on the dataset and remove all other project administrators from the dataset's permissions.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Project administrators with BigQuery dataset-level permissions could still delete the dataset. Also, BigQuery does not have a native retention policy that prevents deletion.
- D
Configure the _Required and _Default log buckets in each project to route logs to a Cloud Storage bucket in logging-project using log sinks. Enable Object Hold and set a retention policy of 5 years on the bucket. Grant the security team the Storage Object Admin role on the bucket.
Correct: Cloud Storage retention policies and Object Hold prevent deletion or modification of objects during the retention period. This centralizes logs and enforces retention.
PCSE Practice Question: Managing operations in a cloud solution environment
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of managing operations in a cloud solution environment. 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.
Your organization has a multi-project environment with centralized logging in a dedicated project (logging-project). All VPC Service Controls perimeters are configured correctly. The security team needs to ensure that all audit logs from all projects are retained for 5 years and cannot be deleted or modified by any project administrator. They also want to restrict access to the logs to only the security team members (who have the 'Security Reviewer' role at the organization level). Currently, each project has its own log sink that exports to a BigQuery dataset in logging-project. The security team notices that some project administrators have inadvertently deleted logs from their project's BigQuery dataset. You need to recommend a solution that prevents log deletion and enforces the retention policy. What should you do?
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
Configure the _Required and _Default log buckets in each project to route logs to a Cloud Storage bucket in logging-project using log sinks. Enable Object Hold and set a retention policy of 5 years on the bucket. Grant the security team the Storage Object Admin role on the bucket.
Option D is correct because it uses a Cloud Storage bucket with a retention policy and Object Hold to prevent deletion or modification of logs for 5 years. The retention policy enforces a minimum retention period, and Object Hold prevents object deletion even by project administrators. Log sinks from each project's _Required and _Default log buckets route logs to this bucket, ensuring centralized, immutable storage. Granting the security team Storage Object Admin allows them to manage the bucket while restricting others.
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.
- ✗
Configure the log sinks to export logs to a Cloud Storage bucket with a lifecycle rule that deletes objects after 5 years. Set the bucket's IAM policy to deny the storage.objects.delete permission to all users except the security team.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Denying delete permissions is not foolproof; a user with storage.objectAdmin role can still delete objects. Also, lifecycle rules are for automatic deletion, not retention enforcement.
- ✗
Create a new BigQuery dataset in logging-project with a table expiration of 5 years and configure the log sinks to export to this dataset. Grant the security team the BigQuery Data Viewer role and revoke all other users' access to the dataset.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Table expiration only auto-deletes tables after 5 years but does not prevent manual deletion. Project administrators with dataset-level permissions could still delete the dataset.
- ✗
Create a new organization-level log sink that exports logs to a BigQuery dataset in logging-project. Grant the security team the BigQuery Data Owner role on the dataset and remove all other project administrators from the dataset's permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Project administrators with BigQuery dataset-level permissions could still delete the dataset. Also, BigQuery does not have a native retention policy that prevents deletion.
- ✓
Configure the _Required and _Default log buckets in each project to route logs to a Cloud Storage bucket in logging-project using log sinks. Enable Object Hold and set a retention policy of 5 years on the bucket. Grant the security team the Storage Object Admin role on the bucket.
Why this is correct
Correct: Cloud Storage retention policies and Object Hold prevent deletion or modification of objects during the retention period. This centralizes logs and enforces retention.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that BigQuery datasets can enforce immutability or that lifecycle rules alone prevent user deletion, when in fact Cloud Storage retention policies and Object Hold are required for true write-once-read-many (WORM) compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Storage retention policies use a bucket-level setting that enforces a minimum retention period for all objects; objects cannot be deleted or overwritten until the retention period expires, even by the bucket owner. Object Hold is a per-object override that prevents deletion regardless of retention policy, useful for legal holds. The _Required and _Default log buckets are system-managed sinks that capture all audit logs (Admin Read, Data Access, etc.) and default logs; routing them via log sinks to a Cloud Storage bucket ensures comprehensive coverage and immutability, which BigQuery cannot provide because it lacks object-level write-once-read-many (WORM) capabilities.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
- →
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCSE questions
500 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCSE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCSE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuring network security practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring network security.
Configuring access within a cloud solution environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Configuring access within a cloud solution environment.
Ensuring data protection practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Ensuring data protection.
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Managing operations in a cloud solution environment.
Supporting compliance requirements practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to Supporting compliance requirements.
PCSE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE fundamentals.
PCSE scenario practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE scenario.
PCSE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCSE questions linked to PCSE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCSE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Managing operations in a cloud solution environment — This question tests Managing operations in 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: Configure the _Required and _Default log buckets in each project to route logs to a Cloud Storage bucket in logging-project using log sinks. Enable Object Hold and set a retention policy of 5 years on the bucket. Grant the security team the Storage Object Admin role on the bucket. — Option D is correct because it uses a Cloud Storage bucket with a retention policy and Object Hold to prevent deletion or modification of logs for 5 years. The retention policy enforces a minimum retention period, and Object Hold prevents object deletion even by project administrators. Log sinks from each project's _Required and _Default log buckets route logs to this bucket, ensuring centralized, immutable storage. Granting the security team Storage Object Admin allows them to manage the bucket while restricting others.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More PCSE practice questions
- Match each IAM role to its typical use case.
- Match each encryption scope to its description.
- Match each CVE or security concept to its description.
- Match each Google Cloud logging/monitoring term to its definition.
- Drag and drop the steps to rotate a customer-managed encryption key (CMEK) in Cloud KMS in the correct order.
- Drag and drop the steps to configure a Cloud NAT for private VM instances in the correct order.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.