Google PCA Practice Question: Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes
A company is migrating 50 on-premises VMs to Compute Engine. They need to minimise downtime and want an automated lift-and-shift migration that replicates disks incrementally. Which Google Cloud service should be used?
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
✓
Migrate for Compute Engine
Migrate for Compute Engine (formerly Velostrata) performs agentless, incremental replication of VM disks to Compute Engine, enabling minimal downtime migrations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
Database Migration Service replicates database schemas and data, not whole VM disk images, so it cannot perform lift-and-shift of 50 VMs. It is tempting because it offers continuous, minimal-downtime replication, but that capability applies to databases; Migrate to Virtual Machines handles VM disk replication.
- ✓
Migrate for Compute Engine
Why this is correct
Migrate for Compute Engine performs automated lift-and-shift replication of on-premises VM disks to Compute Engine, continuously syncing changes so cutover downtime is minimal. This satisfies the incremental disk replication and low-downtime constraints for the 50 VMs without manual rebuilds.
- ✗
Storage Transfer Service
Why it's wrong here
Storage Transfer Service moves objects between storage buckets or file systems, not running VM disk images, so it cannot replicate VM disks incrementally or orchestrate cutover. It is tempting as a managed transfer tool, but Migrate to Virtual Machines is purpose-built for VM migration to Compute Engine.
- ✗
Transfer Appliance
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Appliance is an offline physical device for shipping bulk data, so it cannot incrementally replicate running VM disks or automate cutover. It is tempting for large data volumes with limited bandwidth, but Migrate to Virtual Machines performs the incremental disk replication and lift-and-shift this scenario requires.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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