Google PCA Design and plan a cloud solution architecture Practice Question
A global e-commerce company is designing a multi-region architecture on Google Cloud to ensure high availability and low latency for users worldwide. They want to use a global load balancer that can route traffic to the closest healthy backend and support HTTP(S) and TCP traffic. Which Google Cloud load balancing option should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming a single load balancer can handle both HTTP(S) and TCP traffic globally, but Google Cloud separates these into different load balancer types.
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
✓
Global external HTTP(S) load balancer and global external TCP proxy load balancer
Google Cloud offers separate global load balancers for different protocols. The global external HTTP(S) load balancer handles HTTP(S) traffic with proximity-based routing, while the global external TCP proxy load balancer handles TCP traffic with global anycast IP and proximity routing. Using both together provides the required support for both protocols in a multi-region architecture.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Global external HTTP(S) load balancer with TCP proxy
Why it's wrong here
The global external HTTP(S) load balancer does not support TCP proxy; TCP proxy is a separate load balancer. You cannot combine them into a single global load balancer. This option is technically invalid because these are distinct services. Thus, it does not meet the requirement.
- ✗
Global external TCP/UDP load balancer
Why it's wrong here
The global external TCP/UDP load balancer is for TCP and UDP traffic, but it does not support HTTP(S) and does not provide HTTP-specific features like URL mapping. It also does not route based on proximity for HTTP(S) traffic. Therefore, it does not meet the requirement for both HTTP(S) and TCP traffic with global routing.
- ✓
Global external HTTP(S) load balancer and global external TCP proxy load balancer
Why this is correct
To support both HTTP(S) and TCP traffic with global load balancing and proximity routing, you can use two separate load balancers: the global external HTTP(S) load balancer for HTTP(S) traffic and the global external TCP proxy load balancer for TCP traffic. Both are global and route to the closest healthy backend. This combination meets all requirements.
- ✗
Global external HTTP(S) load balancer
Why it's wrong here
The global external HTTP(S) load balancer provides global load balancing for HTTP(S) traffic, routing to the closest backend based on proximity. However, it does not support TCP traffic; it is designed for HTTP(S) only. Since the requirement includes TCP traffic, this option is insufficient.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Load Balancing and Autoscaling
Key term
Latency
Latency is the time delay between a request being sent over a network and the response being received, often measured in milliseconds.
Key term
Route
A route is a path that data takes through a network from one device or network to another, determined by routing protocols and configured rules.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
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.