Service account keys management in GCP - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a new service account key using gcloud CLI.

GCP

gcloud iam service-accounts keys create key.json --iam-account=[1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

[e-mail]

Bservice-account-key

Cdefault

Dmy-project-id

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using project ID instead of service account email

Using a generic name instead of the full email

The --iam-account flag requires the full service account email to create a key.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the command to list all keys for a service account.

GCP

gcloud iam service-accounts keys list --iam-account=[1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

[e-mail]

Bmy-project-id

Cdefault

Dkey.json

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using project ID instead of service account email

Using a file name instead of the service account email

The --iam-account flag requires the service account email to list its keys.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the command to delete a service account key by specifying the correct key ID.

GCP

gcloud iam service-accounts keys delete [1] --iam-account=[e-mail]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Adefault

[e-mail]

Ckey.json

D1234567890abcdef

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the key file name instead of key ID

Using the service account email as key ID

The keys delete command requires the key ID, not a file name or email.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a new service account key and save it to a specific file.

GCP

gcloud iam service-accounts keys create [1] --iam-account=[2]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Anew-key.json

Bmy-project-id

[e-mail]

Dkey.json

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using project ID instead of service account email

Using a generic file name without extension

The first blank is the file name to save the key. The second blank is the service account email.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to list keys, filter by key type, and delete a specific key.

GCP

gcloud iam service-accounts keys list --iam-account=[1] --filter='keyType:[2]' && gcloud iam service-accounts keys delete [3] --iam-account=[1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

[e-mail]

BUSER_MANAGED

C1234567890abcdef

DSYSTEM_MANAGED

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using system-managed instead of user-managed key type

Using project ID instead of service account email

Using file name instead of key ID for deletion

The service account email is used twice. The filter selects user-managed keys. The key ID is used to delete the key.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a service account key in Google Cloud?

easy

A. To manage billing information for Google Cloud projects

B. To store user passwords for Google Cloud accounts

C. To allow programs to securely access Google Cloud resources

D. To create virtual machines automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand service account keys

   Service account keys are used by programs, not humans, to access Google Cloud securely.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct purpose

   They provide credentials for applications to authenticate and interact with cloud services.

3. Final Answer:

   To allow programs to securely access Google Cloud resources -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Service account keys = secure program access [OK]

Hint: Keys let programs access cloud securely, not users [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing keys with user passwords
• Thinking keys manage billing
• Believing keys create virtual machines

2. Which gcloud command correctly creates a new service account key for the account [e-mail]?

easy

A. gcloud iam service-accounts keys create key.json --iam-account=[e-mail]

B. gcloud iam service-accounts create key.json --account=[e-mail]

C. gcloud service-accounts keys create key.json --account=[e-mail]

D. gcloud iam keys create key.json --iam-account=[e-mail]

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct gcloud command syntax

   The correct command to create a key is gcloud iam service-accounts keys create with the --iam-account flag.

2. Step 2: Match the command with the options

   gcloud iam service-accounts keys create key.json --iam-account=[e-mail] matches the correct syntax exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   gcloud iam service-accounts keys create key.json --iam-account=[e-mail] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct command syntax = gcloud iam service-accounts keys create key.json --iam-account=[e-mail] [OK]

Hint: Use 'iam service-accounts keys create' with --iam-account [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'create' without 'keys'
• Wrong flag like --account instead of --iam-account
• Omitting 'iam' in the command

3. What will be the output of the following command?

gcloud iam service-accounts keys list --iam-account=[e-mail]

Assuming there are two active keys for this service account.

medium

A. A prompt to create a new key

B. An error saying no keys found

C. A list of all service accounts in the project

D. A list showing details of the two active keys including key IDs and creation dates

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the command purpose

   The command lists keys for the specified service account.

2. Step 2: Interpret expected output

   Since two active keys exist, the output will show their details like key IDs and creation dates.

3. Final Answer:

   A list showing details of the two active keys including key IDs and creation dates -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Listing keys shows active keys details [OK]

Hint: List keys command shows active keys info [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting an error if keys exist
• Confusing keys list with service accounts list
• Thinking it prompts for key creation

4. You run the command:

gcloud iam service-accounts keys delete 123abc --iam-account=[e-mail]

But get an error saying the key ID does not exist. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The key ID is incorrect or does not belong to the specified service account

B. The service account email is misspelled

C. You need to create a new key before deleting

D. The project ID is missing from the command

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the error message

   The error says the key ID does not exist, meaning the key ID is invalid or not linked to the service account.

2. Step 2: Check command components

   The service account email may be correct, and project ID is not required here if default is set. Creating a key before deleting is unnecessary.

3. Final Answer:

   The key ID is incorrect or does not belong to the specified service account -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Invalid key ID causes deletion error [OK]

Hint: Check key ID matches service account keys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming project ID is mandatory in this command
• Thinking you must create a key before deleting
• Ignoring key ID correctness

5. You want to rotate service account keys to improve security. Which sequence of actions is the best practice?

hard

A. Delete the old key first, then create a new key and update applications

B. Create a new key, update your applications to use it, then delete the old key

C. Create multiple keys and use them all simultaneously without deleting any

D. Keep using the old key until it expires, then create a new key

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand key rotation best practice

   To avoid downtime, first create a new key and update applications to use it.

2. Step 2: Remove old key after update

   Once applications use the new key, delete the old key to reduce risk.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a new key, update your applications to use it, then delete the old key -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   New key first, then delete old key [OK]

Hint: Add new key before deleting old one to avoid downtime [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Deleting old key before updating apps
• Using multiple keys unnecessarily
• Waiting for old key to expire before rotating