Google PCA Practice Question: Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes
A company runs batch machine learning training jobs that can be interrupted. They want to reduce compute costs. Which Compute Engine VM pricing model is MOST cost-effective?
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
✓
Preemptible VMs
Preemptible VMs offer up to 60-91% discount and can be terminated at any time, ideal for batch workloads that are fault-tolerant. Sustained use discounts are automatic but less aggressive. Committed use discounts require 1 or 3 year commitment. Standard VMs are full price.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Preemptible VMs
Why this is correct
Preemptible VMs are significantly cheaper and suitable for interruptible batch jobs.
- ✗
Standard VMs
Why it's wrong here
Standard VMs are full price, not cost-effective for interruptible workloads.
- ✗
Sustained use discounts
Why it's wrong here
Sustained use discounts are automatic but apply only when you run for a significant portion of a month; still higher cost than preemptible for batch jobs.
- ✗
Committed use discounts
Why it's wrong here
Committed use discounts require a 1 or 3 year commitment and are not needed for interruptible workloads.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Google Cloud Compute Options Overview
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.
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
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