- A
Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger)
Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger) automatically scales from zero to handle requests and scales down to zero when idle, meeting the requirements.
- B
Cloud Run (fully managed)
Cloud Run (fully managed) scales to zero when no requests are received and can handle burst traffic by scaling up quickly.
- C
Compute Engine managed instance group with autoscaling
Why wrong: Compute Engine managed instance groups require at least one instance running at all times, so they cannot scale to zero.
- D
App Engine Standard environment
App Engine Standard environment can scale to zero when configured appropriately, meeting the requirement for scaling to zero when idle and handling burst traffic.
- E
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with a managed instance group
Why wrong: Google Kubernetes Engine with a managed instance group requires a minimum number of nodes even if no pods are running, thus cannot scale to zero.
Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of deploying and implementing a cloud solution. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to deploy a stateless microservice on GCP. The service experiences unpredictable traffic bursts and must scale to zero when idle to minimize costs. Which two services meet these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger)
Cloud Run (fully managed) and Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger) both scale to zero when idle and handle burst traffic. Additionally, App Engine Standard environment can also scale to zero when configured with manual or basic scaling, or with automatic scaling and min_idle_instances set to 0. Compute Engine managed instance groups can scale down but not to zero as they require at least one instance. GKE with managed instance groups also requires a minimum number of nodes. Therefore, the correct answers are Cloud Functions, Cloud Run, and App Engine Standard.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Functions (HTTP trigger)
Why this is correct
Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger) automatically scales from zero to handle requests and scales down to zero when idle, meeting the requirements.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Cloud Run (fully managed)
Why this is correct
Cloud Run (fully managed) scales to zero when no requests are received and can handle burst traffic by scaling up quickly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Compute Engine managed instance group with autoscaling
Why it's wrong here
Compute Engine managed instance groups require at least one instance running at all times, so they cannot scale to zero.
- ✓
App Engine Standard environment
Why this is correct
App Engine Standard environment can scale to zero when configured appropriately, meeting the requirement for scaling to zero when idle and handling burst traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with a managed instance group
Why it's wrong here
Google Kubernetes Engine with a managed instance group requires a minimum number of nodes even if no pods are running, thus cannot scale to zero.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which ACE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — This question tests Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger) — Cloud Run (fully managed) and Cloud Functions (HTTP trigger) both scale to zero when idle and handle burst traffic. Additionally, App Engine Standard environment can also scale to zero when configured with manual or basic scaling, or with automatic scaling and min_idle_instances set to 0. Compute Engine managed instance groups can scale down but not to zero as they require at least one instance. GKE with managed instance groups also requires a minimum number of nodes. Therefore, the correct answers are Cloud Functions, Cloud Run, and App Engine Standard.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which ACE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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