- A
Enable object versioning.
Preserves noncurrent versions for recovery.
- B
Use a lifecycle policy.
Why wrong: Manages deletion, does not protect against it.
- C
Set a retention policy.
Why wrong: Prevents deletion during retention period, but not after.
- D
Use object holds.
Why wrong: Object holds prevent deletion or overwrite of an object for a specified duration, but they do not provide recovery of already deleted objects. They are typically used for compliance or legal holds, not for recovering from accidental deletion.
Question 146 of 1,000
Google PCA Object versioning Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of ensure solution and operations reliability. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: object versioning. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company uses Cloud Storage for backup data. They want to protect against accidental deletion. Which option is best?
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
✓
Enable object versioning.
Object versioning in Cloud Storage preserves every version of an object, including overwrites and deletions. When versioning is enabled, a delete operation creates a delete marker instead of permanently removing the object, allowing easy recovery. This directly protects against accidental deletion by retaining all previous object versions.
Key principle: Object versioning
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enable object versioning.
Why this is correct
Preserves noncurrent versions for recovery.
Related concept
Object versioning
- ✗
Use a lifecycle policy.
Why it's wrong here
Manages deletion, does not protect against it.
- ✗
Set a retention policy.
Why it's wrong here
Prevents deletion during retention period, but not after.
- ✗
Use object holds.
Why it's wrong here
Object holds prevent deletion or overwrite of an object for a specified duration, but they do not provide recovery of already deleted objects. They are typically used for compliance or legal holds, not for recovering from accidental deletion.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between versioning (which allows recovery from accidental deletion) and retention policies (which prevent deletion but do not provide recovery after the fact), leading candidates to confuse compliance protection with accidental deletion protection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When object versioning is enabled, Cloud Storage assigns a generation number to each object upload. Deleting an object inserts a delete marker with a unique generation ID, and the original object remains accessible via its generation number. You can list all versions, including delete markers, and remove the delete marker to restore the object. This mechanism is defined in the Google Cloud Storage JSON API and is distinct from lifecycle or retention policies.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Object versioning
- Delete marker
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Object versioning
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review object versioning, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Ensure solution and operations reliability — This question tests Ensure solution and operations reliability — Object versioning.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable object versioning. — Object versioning in Cloud Storage preserves every version of an object, including overwrites and deletions. When versioning is enabled, a delete operation creates a delete marker instead of permanently removing the object, allowing easy recovery. This directly protects against accidental deletion by retaining all previous object versions.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review object versioning, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Object versioning
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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