- A
Cloud Audit Logs
Audit logs record data access for auditing and monitoring.
- B
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK)
Why wrong: CMEK provides encryption, not network access control.
- C
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Why wrong: DLP identifies sensitive data, but does not restrict network access.
- D
IAM roles
Why wrong: IAM controls who can access, not network restriction.
- E
VPC Service Controls
VPC SC allows restricting access to BigQuery from specific VPC networks.
Question 117 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. 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.
A data engineer needs to restrict access to BigQuery datasets such that only data from approved VPC networks can query them. They also need to audit data access. Which two security controls should they implement? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Cloud Audit Logs
Cloud Audit Logs (option A) is correct because it provides a record of all administrative and data-access operations on BigQuery datasets, enabling the data engineer to audit who accessed what data and from which network. This satisfies the requirement to audit data access by capturing detailed logs of API calls, including the identity of the caller and the source IP address.
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.
- ✓
Cloud Audit Logs
Why this is correct
Audit logs record data access for auditing and monitoring.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK)
Why it's wrong here
CMEK provides encryption, not network access control.
- ✗
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Why it's wrong here
DLP identifies sensitive data, but does not restrict network access.
- ✗
IAM roles
Why it's wrong here
IAM controls who can access, not network restriction.
- ✓
VPC Service Controls
Why this is correct
VPC SC allows restricting access to BigQuery from specific VPC networks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between identity-based controls (IAM) and network-based controls (VPC Service Controls), leading candidates to mistakenly choose IAM roles when the requirement explicitly specifies restricting access by VPC network rather than by user identity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC Service Controls (option E) work by creating a service perimeter that prevents data exfiltration and restricts access to BigQuery from only approved VPC networks, using context-aware access policies that evaluate source IP ranges and VPC network tags. Cloud Audit Logs capture Data Access audit logs for BigQuery, which include the `authenticationInfo` and `requestMetadata` fields to trace the exact VPC network source, enabling compliance with strict network-based access policies.
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.
- →
Storing the Data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Storing the Data practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PDE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Data Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PDE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PDE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Designing Data Processing Systems practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Designing Data Processing Systems.
Ingesting and Processing the Data practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Ingesting and Processing the Data.
Storing the Data practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Storing the Data.
Preparing and Using Data for Analysis practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Preparing and Using Data for Analysis.
Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads.
Building and operationalizing data processing systems practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Building and operationalizing data processing systems.
Operationalizing machine learning models practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Operationalizing machine learning models.
Ensuring solution quality practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to Ensuring solution quality.
PDE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to PDE fundamentals.
PDE scenario practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to PDE scenario.
PDE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PDE questions linked to PDE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PDE 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 PDE question test?
Storing the Data — This question tests Storing the Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Audit Logs — Cloud Audit Logs (option A) is correct because it provides a record of all administrative and data-access operations on BigQuery datasets, enabling the data engineer to audit who accessed what data and from which network. This satisfies the requirement to audit data access by capturing detailed logs of API calls, including the identity of the caller and the source IP address.
What should I do if I get this PDE 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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PDE 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 PDE 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.