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Google ACE Practice Question: A global web application needs HTTPS traffic…
A global web application needs HTTPS traffic routed to backend services in multiple regions, directing each user to the nearest healthy endpoint. Which load balancer type should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between global and regional load balancers, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse a regional external Network Load Balancer (which handles TCP/UDP traffic but not HTTPS) with a global Application Load Balancer, overlooking the requirement for HTTPS termination and cross-regional routing.
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
✓
Global external Application Load Balancer
The Global external Application Load Balancer (ALB) is the correct choice because it provides cross-regional load balancing for HTTPS traffic, routing each user to the nearest healthy backend based on anycast IP and client location. This is essential for a global web application requiring low latency and high availability across multiple regions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Regional external Network Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
The Regional external Network Load Balancer is a Layer 4 TCP/UDP load balancer with a public IP, but it is regional: its IP address is advertised only within one Google Cloud region, and it forwards traffic only to backends in that region. It does not provide HTTPS or HTTP application-layer features like content-based routing, SSL termination, or global failover. Therefore it fails both the HTTPS requirement and the multi-region global routing requirement.
- ✓
Global external Application Load Balancer
Why this is correct
The Global external Application Load Load Balancer is built on Google's global anycast infrastructure, using a single global IP address that accepts HTTPS traffic at Google's edge points around the world. It then routes requests over Google's private backbone to the nearest healthy backend, regardless of the backend's region, enabling a true global load-balancing. This makes it the only option that satisfies the dual requirements of HTTP/HTTPS content delivery and multi-region global routing.
- ✗
Regional internal Application Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
The Regional internal Application Load Balancer is a Layer 7 load balancer that operates entirely inside a VPC network, distributing HTTP/HTTPS traffic to backends within a single region. Because it has an internal IP address and is not exposed to the public internet, it cannot serve global end users. Its regional scope also means it cannot route traffic across multiple Google Cloud regions, making it unsuitable for a globally distributed API or web service.
- ✗
Regional internal TCP/UDP load balancer
Why it's wrong here
The Regional internal TCP/UDP load balancer is a Layer 4 pass-through load balancer confined to a single region and accessible only from within the VPC. It does not terminate HTTPS or perform any Layer 7 protocol processing, so it cannot inspect HTTP headers or route based on URL paths. Being internal, it is not reachable from the pubic internet, and being regional it has no global anycast capability.
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GCP Database Services
Key term
Availability
Availability is the measure of how often a system or service is operational and accessible when needed, typically expressed as a percentage of uptime.
Key term
High availability
High availability is a system design approach that aims to keep applications and services operational and accessible with minimal downtime, even when some components fail.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.