- A
Change all VMs to n1-standard-1 instances
Why wrong: Changing instance types may reduce cost but is not a specific discount mechanism and may not meet workload requirements.
- B
Enable sustained use discounts
Sustained use discounts automatically apply for VMs running more than 25% of the month, but they are complementary to CUDs; however, for a 24/7 workload, they will apply but CUDs are more cost-effective.
- C
Use active assist recommendations to rightsize VMs
Why wrong: Rightsizing reduces cost but is not a commitment action; the question asks for two actions to reduce costs, and CUDs and sustained use are direct discount mechanisms.
- D
Purchase committed use discounts for the required vCPUs and memory
CUDs provide up to 57% discount for 1-year commitment for 24/7 usage.
- E
Use preemptible VMs instead of regular VMs
Why wrong: Preemptible VMs are not suitable for 24/7 workloads due to potential termination.
Cloud Digital Leader How Google Cloud Resources Are Managed Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of how google cloud resources are managed. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 reduce Compute Engine costs for a production workload that runs 24/7. They are willing to commit to a 1-year term. Which TWO actions would help reduce costs? (Choose TWO.)
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
Enable sustained use discounts
Committed use discounts (CUDs) provide significant discounts for 1- or 3-year commitments. Sustained use discounts are automatic for VMs running over 25% of the month, but CUDs offer larger discounts. Preemptible VMs are not suitable for 24/7 workloads as they can be terminated at any time. Rightsizing recommendations can help but are not a commitment action.
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.
- ✗
Change all VMs to n1-standard-1 instances
Why it's wrong here
Changing instance types may reduce cost but is not a specific discount mechanism and may not meet workload requirements.
- ✓
Enable sustained use discounts
Why this is correct
Sustained use discounts automatically apply for VMs running more than 25% of the month, but they are complementary to CUDs; however, for a 24/7 workload, they will apply but CUDs are more cost-effective.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use active assist recommendations to rightsize VMs
Why it's wrong here
Rightsizing reduces cost but is not a commitment action; the question asks for two actions to reduce costs, and CUDs and sustained use are direct discount mechanisms.
- ✓
Purchase committed use discounts for the required vCPUs and memory
Why this is correct
CUDs provide up to 57% discount for 1-year commitment for 24/7 usage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use preemptible VMs instead of regular VMs
Why it's wrong here
Preemptible VMs are not suitable for 24/7 workloads due to potential termination.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which GCDL 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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How Google Cloud Resources Are Managed — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
How Google Cloud Resources Are Managed — This question tests How Google Cloud Resources Are Managed — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable sustained use discounts — Committed use discounts (CUDs) provide significant discounts for 1- or 3-year commitments. Sustained use discounts are automatic for VMs running over 25% of the month, but CUDs offer larger discounts. Preemptible VMs are not suitable for 24/7 workloads as they can be terminated at any time. Rightsizing recommendations can help but are not a commitment action.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL 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.
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
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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