Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer Practice Exam

What is the recommended method for deleting personally identifiable information (PII) on Google Cloud?

1. Use customer-managed encryption keys to delete specific encryption keys

2. Manually delete PII records from storage

3. Utilize Google Cloud's automatic data deletion features

4. Employ third-party data destruction services

The correct answer is: Use customer-managed encryption keys to delete specific encryption keys

The recommended method for deleting personally identifiable information (PII) on Google Cloud involves using customer-managed encryption keys to delete specific encryption keys. This approach effectively ensures that the data encrypted with those keys becomes irretrievable. When the encryption keys are deleted, the associated data cannot be decrypted, rendering it unrecoverable. This method aligns with best practices for handling sensitive data, as it provides a robust level of security and control over data retention and destruction. By managing your encryption keys, you ensure that you have full authority over when and how data is rendered inaccessible. Not only does this approach comply with various data protection regulations, but it also enhances the overall security posture of your cloud environment. Other methods, such as manually deleting PII records or utilizing Google's automatic data deletion features, may not provide the same level of assurance regarding complete data destruction. Manual deletion is prone to human error and may leave remnants of data, while automatic deletion features may not cater to the specific compliance needs of your organization. Third-party data destruction services could be effective, but they may introduce additional complexities and trust issues relating to data handling. Therefore, utilizing customer-managed encryption keys offers a more secure and compliant solution for PII deletion.