- A
Use Data Studio directly on Cloud SQL primary instance
Why wrong: Data Studio queries the primary instance, impacting OLTP performance.
- B
Migrate to Cloud Spanner to handle both workloads
Why wrong: Spanner is overkill and migration is disruptive; not necessary.
- C
Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on it
Read replicas handle read traffic, preventing impact on the primary instance for OLTP.
- D
Export the database to BigQuery and run queries there
Why wrong: Exporting is a batch process and does not provide near-real-time data; also more complex.
Question 950 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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An e-commerce company uses Cloud SQL for MySQL for its transactional database. They need to run complex analytical queries on the same data without impacting OLTP performance. The analytical queries should be run on a read replica with minimal lag. Which solution 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
✓
Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on it
Creating a Cloud SQL read replica allows you to offload analytical queries to a separate instance that replicates from the primary using MySQL's native asynchronous replication. This isolates the OLTP workload from heavy analytical queries, and with proper configuration (e.g., using a higher machine type and enabling InnoDB buffer pool tuning on the replica), you can achieve minimal replication lag. The read replica supports the same MySQL engine, so complex analytical queries run without schema changes or data movement.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Data Studio directly on Cloud SQL primary instance
Why it's wrong here
Data Studio queries the primary instance, impacting OLTP performance.
- ✗
Migrate to Cloud Spanner to handle both workloads
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is overkill and migration is disruptive; not necessary.
- ✓
Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on it
Why this is correct
Read replicas handle read traffic, preventing impact on the primary instance for OLTP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export the database to BigQuery and run queries there
Why it's wrong here
Exporting is a batch process and does not provide near-real-time data; also more complex.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly think exporting to BigQuery is the best solution for analytics on Cloud SQL data, but the trap is that the question explicitly requires 'minimal lag' and 'without impacting OLTP performance,' which a read replica achieves directly, whereas BigQuery introduces data movement delays and pipeline complexity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL read replicas use MySQL's binary log (binlog) replication to apply changes asynchronously from the primary. To minimize lag, you can enable 'replica_parallel_workers' and tune 'innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit' on the replica, but note that the replica's replication lag is also affected by the write load on the primary and the replica's instance size. In practice, for sub-second lag requirements, you might need to use a higher-tier replica and monitor the 'Seconds_Behind_Master' metric via Cloud Monitoring.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on it — Creating a Cloud SQL read replica allows you to offload analytical queries to a separate instance that replicates from the primary using MySQL's native asynchronous replication. This isolates the OLTP workload from heavy analytical queries, and with proper configuration (e.g., using a higher machine type and enabling InnoDB buffer pool tuning on the replica), you can achieve minimal replication lag. The read replica supports the same MySQL engine, so complex analytical queries run without schema changes or data movement.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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