Google PCA Practice Question: Managing and Provisioning a Solution Infrastructure
A company is migrating its on-premises MongoDB database to Google Cloud. They want a fully managed, highly available NoSQL database that is compatible with MongoDB drivers. Which Google Cloud service should they choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
PCA often tests the distinction between fully managed third-party services available on Google Cloud Marketplace (like MongoDB Atlas) and native Google Cloud databases (Firestore, Bigtable), tricking candidates into choosing a native service that is not driver-compatible.
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
✓
MongoDB Atlas on Google Cloud Marketplace
MongoDB Atlas on Google Cloud Marketplace is the correct choice because it is a fully managed MongoDB service that is wire-protocol compatible with native MongoDB drivers, allowing the company to migrate its on-premises MongoDB workload with minimal application changes. It provides high availability, automated backups, and scaling while running on Google Cloud infrastructure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud Firestore
Why it's wrong here
Firestore is a document database with its own native SDKs and no MongoDB wire-protocol endpoint, so existing MongoDB drivers cannot connect. It is tempting because both are document stores, and Firestore would be correct for new mobile or web applications built directly against its API.
- ✓
MongoDB Atlas on Google Cloud Marketplace
Why this is correct
MongoDB Atlas is a fully managed service that preserves native MongoDB wire-protocol compatibility, so existing drivers connect unchanged. Running it via Google Cloud Marketplace satisfies the managed, highly available requirement while avoiding the operational burden of self-managed MongoDB on Compute Engine.
- ✗
Cloud Bigtable
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable is a wide-column store accessed through HBase or its own API, so it cannot serve MongoDB wire-protocol queries without rewriting the application. It is tempting as a managed NoSQL option, and would be correct for high-throughput analytical workloads with row-key access patterns.
- ✗
Cloud SQL
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL provides managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server, all relational engines, so it offers no MongoDB driver compatibility and would force schema redesign. It is tempting as a familiar managed database, and would be correct for lift-and-shift migrations of relational workloads.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
IAM Policies, Service Accounts, and Auditing
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.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 807 original PCA practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
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.