Cloud Digital Leader Practice Question: Google Cloud products, services, and solutions
A project manager wants a cost-effective way to run batch processing jobs that run for a few hours each night. The jobs are fault-tolerant and can be interrupted. Which Compute Engine option is most suitable?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that preemptible VMs are only for short-lived tasks, but the trap here is that candidates overlook the 'fault-tolerant and can be interrupted' requirement and choose committed use discounts, failing to recognize that preemptible VMs are the most cost-effective option for nightly batch jobs that can handle interruptions.
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
✓
Preemptible VMs
Preemptible VMs are Compute Engine instances that last up to 24 hours and can be terminated at any time by Google Cloud, making them ideal for fault-tolerant, interruptible batch jobs that run for a few hours each night. They offer up to 80% cost savings compared to regular VMs, which aligns perfectly with the project manager's requirement for a cost-effective solution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
N2 high-CPU VMs
Why it's wrong here
These are performance-optimized, not cost-optimized for interruptible batch jobs.
- ✗
Regular VMs with committed use discounts
Why it's wrong here
Committed use discounts require a 1-year commitment, but the jobs run nightly, so regular VMs would be more expensive than preemptible for this short-duration workload.
- ✗
Sole-tenant nodes
Why it's wrong here
Sole-tenant nodes are for isolation, not cost savings.
- ✓
Preemptible VMs
Why this is correct
Preemptible VMs are significantly cheaper and can be terminated at any time, but suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Cloud Digital Transformation
Key term
Project
A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end, undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result, managed through specific processes in IT environments.
Key term
Compute Engine
Compute Engine is Google Cloud's Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offering that lets you create and run virtual machines on Google's infrastructure.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.