- A
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is globally distributed, but not PostgreSQL-compatible and overkill for a single-region migration.
- B
AlloyDB
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible and optimized for analytics and AI workloads with up to 4x faster query performance than standard PostgreSQL.
- C
BigQuery
Why wrong: BigQuery is a serverless data warehouse, not a transactional database.
- D
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Cloud SQL is for general OLTP but not optimized for analytics/AI like AlloyDB.
Question 370 of 1,000
Google PCA Practice Question: Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of designing and planning a cloud solution architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 wants to migrate its on-premises Oracle database to GCP with minimal changes. They require a fully managed, PostgreSQL-compatible database that offers high performance for analytics and AI workloads. Which service should they choose?
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
✓
AlloyDB
AlloyDB is a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database optimized for high performance analytics and AI, with support for vector embeddings and other AI features.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is globally distributed, but not PostgreSQL-compatible and overkill for a single-region migration.
- ✓
AlloyDB
Why this is correct
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible and optimized for analytics and AI workloads with up to 4x faster query performance than standard PostgreSQL.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is a serverless data warehouse, not a transactional database.
- ✗
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL is for general OLTP but not optimized for analytics/AI like AlloyDB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — This question tests Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AlloyDB — AlloyDB is a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database optimized for high performance analytics and AI, with support for vector embeddings and other AI features.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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