Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer Practice Exam

What feature should be used to manage user access to an application remotely?

1. Cloud Functions

2. API Gateway

3. Identity-Aware Proxy

4. Cloud Endpoints

The correct answer is: Identity-Aware Proxy

The use of Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) is essential for managing user access to applications remotely because it provides a robust security layer that controls access based on the identity of the user and the context of their request. IAP enables authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only users with the appropriate identities can access the application, irrespective of their location. IAP integrates with Google Cloud identity services and gives users a secure means of access while leveraging existing enterprise identity resources. This is particularly valuable in scenarios where users might need to access applications from various devices and locations, as it enforces security policies without the need for a traditional VPN. By utilizing IAP, organizations can effectively manage access to sensitive applications while ensuring a seamless user experience. This feature supports access control policies based on user roles, improving both security posture and compliance with regulatory requirements. In contrast, Cloud Functions and Cloud Endpoints focus primarily on serverless computing and API management respectively, while API Gateway is geared more towards managing, securing, and monitoring APIs, rather than providing user access management for web applications. Thus, Identity-Aware Proxy stands out as the most suitable solution for the described requirement of managing user access to an application remotely.