Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
A company runs a web application on Compute Engine instances behind a load balancer. They want to automatically scale the number of instances based on CPU utilization. Which two resources must they create? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ACE often tests the components required for autoscaling; candidates may forget that both a MIG and an instance template are needed, or confuse them with other services like Cloud Functions.
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
✓
Managed instance group (MIG) with autoscaling policy
Option C is correct because a managed instance group (MIG) is the Compute Engine resource that actually performs autoscaling; you attach an autoscaling policy based on CPU utilization to the MIG, and it adds or removes VM instances to match the target utilization. Option E is correct because a MIG requires an instance template to define the machine type, boot disk image, network, and other configuration used when creating each new VM instance. Together, the instance template defines what to create and the MIG with an autoscaling policy defines how many to run and when to scale. Options A, B, and D are not required: a Cloud Storage bucket, Cloud SQL instance, and Cloud Function are unrelated to Compute Engine horizontal autoscaling and are not prerequisites for scaling instances behind a load balancer based on CPU.
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 Storage bucket
Why it's wrong here
A Cloud Storage bucket stores objects; it plays no part in Compute Engine autoscaling. It is tempting because buckets commonly support web content delivery, but autoscaling requires an instance template and a managed instance group, which define the machine image and the scalable set of instances.
- ✗
Cloud SQL instance
Why it's wrong here
A Cloud SQL instance provides a managed relational database, not compute scaling. It is tempting because web applications typically need a database, but the question asks what enables autoscaling: an instance template and a managed instance group, which the autoscaler resizes on CPU metrics.
- ✓
Managed instance group (MIG) with autoscaling policy
Why this is correct
A managed instance group with an autoscaling policy satisfies the CPU-based scaling requirement: the MIG maintains identical Compute Engine instances, while the autoscaling policy adds or removes instances when average CPU utilisation crosses the configured target. The load balancer then distributes traffic across the group's instances.
- ✗
Cloud Function
Why it's wrong here
A Cloud Function runs event-driven serverless code and cannot manage Compute Engine instance counts. It is tempting because serverless functions often handle automation, but autoscaling requires an instance template and a managed instance group, which the autoscaler resizes based on CPU utilisation.
- ✓
Instance template
Why this is correct
An instance template defines the machine type, boot disk image, and startup script used to provision each new Compute Engine instance. A managed instance group requires it to create identical replicas when the autoscaler adds capacity in response to sustained CPU utilisation above the target threshold.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
GCP Resource Hierarchy: Org, Folder, Project
Key term
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
Key term
Managed instance group
A managed instance group is a collection of identical virtual machine instances that are automatically managed as a single unit to ensure high availability and scalability.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
This ACE 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 ACE exam.