Google PCA Practice Question: Analysing and Optimising Technical and Business Processes
A startup is migrating its on-premises MySQL database (5 TB) to Cloud SQL. The database is mission-critical and downtime must be minimized. Which migration service should they use to reduce downtime?
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
✓
Database Migration Service (DMS)
Database Migration Service (DMS) supports continuous replication from on-premises MySQL to Cloud SQL, minimizing downtime. Other options like Transfer Appliance or Storage Transfer Service are for file transfers, not live databases.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Transfer Appliance
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Appliance ships physical storage for bulk data, but it cannot replicate ongoing MySQL writes, so the final cutover still needs a separate sync and downtime. It fits migrating large static datasets or object storage where no live transactional consistency is required.
- ✗
gcloud sql import command
Why it's wrong here
Importing a 5 TB dump via gcloud sql import requires the target instance to be offline for the whole load, so downtime scales with data size. It suits small one-off restores into an existing Cloud SQL instance, not minimising cutover downtime for a mission-critical migration.
- ✗
Storage Transfer Service
Why it's wrong here
Storage Transfer Service moves objects between buckets or HTTP sources; it has no MySQL replication mechanism, so it cannot keep the source and Cloud SQL in sync. It is the right choice for migrating files or archives into Cloud Storage, not a live relational database.
- ✓
Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
Database Migration Service uses continuous replication to keep the target Cloud SQL instance synchronised with the source MySQL database, then performs a brief cutover. This minimises downtime for the mission-critical 5 TB database, satisfying the stem's constraint.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
IAM Policies, Service Accounts, and Auditing
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
Key term
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.