- A
App Engine Standard Environment
Why wrong: App Engine Standard Environment uses specific runtimes, not custom containers, and its scaling is not primarily based on CPU usage.
- B
Compute Engine with autoscaling
Compute Engine with autoscaling can run containers on VM instances and scale based on CPU utilization, with rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments.
- C
Cloud Run
Why wrong: Cloud Run is a serverless container platform that scales based on request concurrency, not CPU usage, so it does not meet the CPU-based scaling requirement.
- D
Google Kubernetes Engine with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
Google Kubernetes Engine with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler automatically adjusts the number of pods based on CPU utilization and supports rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments.
- E
Managed Instance Groups
Why wrong: Managed Instance Groups are used for managing VM instances, not containers, and are not a container-native solution.
Google ACE Horizontal Pod Autoscaler Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of deploying and implementing a cloud solution. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: horizontal Pod Autoscaler. 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 web application that receives high traffic and requires automatic scaling based on CPU usage, with zero-downtime deployments. The application is containerized. Which TWO services should be considered? (Choose 2 correct answers.)
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
Compute Engine with autoscaling
GKE with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) can scale containerized applications based on CPU utilization, and supports rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments. Compute Engine with autoscaling allows running containers on VMs and can autoscale based on CPU usage, with managed instance groups enabling rolling updates. Cloud Run scales based on request concurrency, not CPU, so it does not meet the requirement. App Engine Standard is not for arbitrary containers. Managed Instance Groups are for VMs, not containers directly.
Key principle: Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
App Engine Standard Environment
Why it's wrong here
App Engine Standard Environment uses specific runtimes, not custom containers, and its scaling is not primarily based on CPU usage.
- ✓
Compute Engine with autoscaling
Why this is correct
Compute Engine with autoscaling can run containers on VM instances and scale based on CPU utilization, with rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments.
Related concept
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
- ✗
Cloud Run
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run is a serverless container platform that scales based on request concurrency, not CPU usage, so it does not meet the CPU-based scaling requirement.
- ✓
Google Kubernetes Engine with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
Why this is correct
Google Kubernetes Engine with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler automatically adjusts the number of pods based on CPU utilization and supports rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments.
Related concept
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
- ✗
Managed Instance Groups
Why it's wrong here
Managed Instance Groups are used for managing VM instances, not containers, and are not a container-native solution.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume Cloud Run scales on CPU, but it actually scales on request concurrency. For CPU-based scaling, GKE or Compute Engine with autoscaling is appropriate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
- Compute Engine autoscaling
- Cloud Run scaling
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review horizontal Pod Autoscaler, then practise related ACE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Horizontal Pod Autoscaler.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Compute Engine with autoscaling — GKE with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) can scale containerized applications based on CPU utilization, and supports rolling updates for zero-downtime deployments. Compute Engine with autoscaling allows running containers on VMs and can autoscale based on CPU usage, with managed instance groups enabling rolling updates. Cloud Run scales based on request concurrency, not CPU, so it does not meet the requirement. App Engine Standard is not for arbitrary containers. Managed Instance Groups are for VMs, not containers directly.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Review horizontal Pod Autoscaler, then practise related ACE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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