Google PCA Practice Question: Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes
A company is migrating 500 TB of on-premises file server data to Cloud Storage. The on-premises network has a 1 Gbps link to Google Cloud, but the migration must complete within 30 days. What is the MOST cost-effective and reliable method?
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
✓
Use Transfer Appliance
Transfer Appliance is a physical device that Google ships to the customer; they load data onto it and return it for upload. For 500 TB over a 1 Gbps link, the theoretical transfer time is ~46 days (500 TB * 8 / 1 Gbps / 86400 sec/day), exceeding the 30-day window. Transfer Appliance avoids network transfer and meets the timeline. Storage Transfer Service is for cloud-to-cloud or HTTP(S) sources, not on-prem. Migrate for Compute Engine is for VM migration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Storage Transfer Service over a dedicated interconnect
Why it's wrong here
Even with 10 Gbps, transfer would take ~5 days, but the company has only a 1 Gbps link. Storage Transfer Service is for cloud-to-cloud or HTTP(S) sources, not on-prem file servers directly.
- ✗
Deploy a VPN and use gsutil rsync
Why it's wrong here
gsutil rsync over a 1 Gbps VPN would take ~46 days, exceeding the deadline. Also, the link may have overhead.
- ✗
Use Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
Database Migration Service is for migrating databases to Cloud SQL, not file server data.
- ✓
Use Transfer Appliance
Why this is correct
Transfer Appliance can physically ship 500 TB of data, bypassing network constraints. It is reliable and cost-effective for large data volumes.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a service that lets you save data on remote servers accessed over the internet instead of on your computer's hard drive.
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCA 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 PCA exam.