- A
Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a shared persistent disk for the database mounted on both instances and configure the application to use the same database path. Use rolling replacement for patching.
Why wrong: A shared persistent disk cannot be attached to multiple instances with read-write access; it would cause corruption.
- B
Deploy the application in a GKE cluster with a single pod and a persistent volume claim for the database, using a LoadBalancer service. Use node auto-upgrades for patching.
Why wrong: Requires containerization and Kubernetes expertise; the company has limited Kubernetes knowledge.
- C
Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a regional persistent disk for the database and attach it to the primary instance; use a startup script to mount the disk and start the application. Use rolling updates for patching by updating the instance template and performing a rolling replacement.
Provides zonal resilience, regional disk for durability, and rolling updates for zero-downtime patching.
- D
Deploy the application on a single Compute Engine instance in a single zone. Use snapshots for backup and a Cloud Load Balancer with a health check pointing to the instance.
Why wrong: Single zone does not provide zonal resilience; an outage takes down the app.
Google ACE Practice Question: A retail company has a customer-facing web…
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of ace exam topics. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 retail company has a customer-facing web application that runs on a legacy architecture. The application consists of a PHP frontend and a MySQL database that must be co-located on the same virtual machine due to hardcoded configuration paths. The company is migrating to Google Cloud. They want to minimize operational overhead and ensure the application is resilient to a single zone failure. Additionally, they need to apply critical OS security patches monthly without causing downtime. The application's traffic is predictable, with peak load during business hours. The company has a small IT team with limited Kubernetes expertise. They are willing to use managed services but want to keep the application architecture as simple as possible. The existing application is not containerized and uses a specific Linux distribution. They have already tested the application on Compute Engine and confirmed it works on Debian 10. The database is approximately 50 GB and needs to be durable. They also need to ensure that the application can recover quickly if an instance fails. Which deployment strategy should they use? (Choose the best option.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a regional persistent disk for the database and attach it to the primary instance; use a startup script to mount the disk and start the application. Use rolling updates for patching by updating the instance template and performing a rolling replacement.
Option C is correct because it provides zonal resilience by deploying instances in different zones within a managed instance group, uses a regional persistent disk for durable database storage that can be attached to a new instance in case of failure, and allows zero-downtime patching via rolling updates. Option A, while offering zonal resilience, incorrectly uses a shared persistent disk that cannot be attached to multiple instances in read-write mode, making it unfeasible for the database. Option B requires containerization and Kubernetes expertise, which the small IT team lacks, and does not provide instance-level resilience with a single pod. Option D uses a single instance with no zonal resilience and relies on snapshots, which do not provide quick recovery from instance failure.
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.
- ✗
Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a shared persistent disk for the database mounted on both instances and configure the application to use the same database path. Use rolling replacement for patching.
Why it's wrong here
A shared persistent disk cannot be attached to multiple instances with read-write access; it would cause corruption.
- ✗
Deploy the application in a GKE cluster with a single pod and a persistent volume claim for the database, using a LoadBalancer service. Use node auto-upgrades for patching.
Why it's wrong here
Requires containerization and Kubernetes expertise; the company has limited Kubernetes knowledge.
- ✓
Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a regional persistent disk for the database and attach it to the primary instance; use a startup script to mount the disk and start the application. Use rolling updates for patching by updating the instance template and performing a rolling replacement.
Why this is correct
Provides zonal resilience, regional disk for durability, and rolling updates for zero-downtime patching.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deploy the application on a single Compute Engine instance in a single zone. Use snapshots for backup and a Cloud Load Balancer with a health check pointing to the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Single zone does not provide zonal resilience; an outage takes down the app.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the application on a managed instance group with at least two instances, each in different zones, behind a TCP load balancer. Use a regional persistent disk for the database and attach it to the primary instance; use a startup script to mount the disk and start the application. Use rolling updates for patching by updating the instance template and performing a rolling replacement. — Option C is correct because it provides zonal resilience by deploying instances in different zones within a managed instance group, uses a regional persistent disk for durable database storage that can be attached to a new instance in case of failure, and allows zero-downtime patching via rolling updates. Option A, while offering zonal resilience, incorrectly uses a shared persistent disk that cannot be attached to multiple instances in read-write mode, making it unfeasible for the database. Option B requires containerization and Kubernetes expertise, which the small IT team lacks, and does not provide instance-level resilience with a single pod. Option D uses a single instance with no zonal resilience and relies on snapshots, which do not provide quick recovery from instance failure.
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: "best", "minimum / minimize". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 23, 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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