Google PCA Practice Question: Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability
A company is planning a phased migration of their on-premises database to Cloud SQL. They want to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which approach should they use?
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 Database Migration Service (DMS)
Database Migration Service (DMS) supports continuous replication with minimal downtime. Export and import involves downtime. Lift-and-shift is not a GCP service. VM migration is for servers, not databases.
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 Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
Database Migration Service performs continuous replication from the source into Cloud SQL, keeping the target synchronised until cutover. This minimises downtime and preserves consistency during the phased migration, unlike a one-off dump and load, which requires pausing writes.
- ✗
Lift and shift the database server to Compute Engine
Why it's wrong here
Lifting the database server to Compute Engine keeps it self-managed, so it never becomes Cloud SQL and offers no managed replication for cutover. It is tempting because it moves the workload quickly with minimal application change, and would suit a migration where retaining full OS and engine control is the actual goal.
- ✗
Export the database to a SQL dump file and import into Cloud SQL
Why it's wrong here
A dump-and-import requires stopping writes for the export and again during import, so downtime spans the whole copy and consistency depends on that freeze. It is tempting for small databases or one-off moves, where a maintenance window is acceptable and continuous replication is unnecessary.
- ✗
Use VM migration to move the database server
Why it's wrong here
VM migration relocates the server to Compute Engine, leaving a self-managed database rather than Cloud SQL, so it does not satisfy the target platform. It is tempting because it preserves the existing engine and configuration, and would be correct when moving a general-purpose server that is not being converted to a managed service.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Migration and Transfer Services
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
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
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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.