Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer Practice Exam

How should you configure access to Google APIs over Cloud Interconnect to mitigate exfiltration risk?

1. Allow unrestricted access to all APIs

2. Use public IP addresses for API access

3. Use restricted googleapis.com with specific routable IP addresses

4. Set up VPN for all API calls

The correct answer is: Use restricted googleapis.com with specific routable IP addresses

Configuring access to Google APIs over Cloud Interconnect with specific routable IP addresses enhances security by minimizing the potential for data exfiltration. By restricting access to only the `googleapis.com` domain and using specific, routable IP addresses, you create a controlled environment where traffic is closely monitored and managed. This approach significantly limits the attack surface by preventing unauthorized access from unknown IP addresses, making it much harder for potential attackers to leverage the API for data exfiltration. Using restricted IP addresses also allows for better traffic logging and monitoring, as it’s easier to identify anomalies when only a specific set of addresses is permitted. This is crucial for security assessments and compliance as it aligns with best practices for securing API access and ensuring that only intended applications and users can interact with your cloud resources. In contrast, allowing unrestricted access to all APIs would open the gateway to numerous potential threats and dramatically increase the risk of data being exfiltrated. Employing public IP addresses can also pose security challenges, as it exposes the API endpoints more broadly to the internet, making them vulnerable to various attacks. Setting up a VPN for all API calls could enhance security but may introduce unnecessary complexity and latency for applications that require speedy access to resources, particularly when a more streamlined