Google PCA Practice Question: Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes
A company runs a global e-commerce platform on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with a Cloud SQL for MySQL database. During promotions, traffic spikes cause database connection limits to be exceeded, leading to errors. The application uses the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy. What is the MOST scalable and cost-effective solution?
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 a connection pooler such as ProxySQL deployed in the GKE cluster
Connection pooling (e.g., using PgBouncer for PostgreSQL, but for MySQL, similar poolers like ProxySQL or built-in connection pooling) allows the application to reuse connections and handle many concurrent requests without hitting database connection limits. Increasing the database tier or proxy instances adds cost and may not address the underlying issue of connection churn.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy to use private IP and increase pool size
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL Auth Proxy does not have a configurable pool size for connections; it proxies each connection individually.
- ✗
Upgrade the Cloud SQL instance to a higher tier with more connections
Why it's wrong here
Higher tiers increase connection limits but also cost. They do not solve the problem of connection churn and may be less cost-effective than pooling.
- ✗
Increase the number of Cloud SQL Auth Proxy replicas
Why it's wrong here
Auth proxy replicas still each hold connections to the database; they don't pool connections across instances. They also add complexity and cost.
- ✓
Use a connection pooler such as ProxySQL deployed in the GKE cluster
Why this is correct
ProxySQL pools connections to the database, allowing many application connections to be multiplexed over fewer database connections, reducing load on the database and avoiding connection limits.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
GKE
GKE is Google's managed Kubernetes service that automates deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications in the cloud.
Key term
Google Kubernetes Engine
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a managed Kubernetes service on Google Cloud that lets you deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications without having to operate the underlying cluster control plane.
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