Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
Your organization is moving a legacy monolithic application to Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). The application currently runs on a single virtual machine with a local MySQL database. You need to design a cloud-native architecture that improves scalability and reliability. Which two actions should you take? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that simply containerizing a monolith or using a larger machine type is sufficient for cloud-native scalability, when in fact true scalability requires decoupling components into independently scalable units and separating stateful services like databases.
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
✓
Refactor the application into microservices and deploy each as a separate deployment in GKE.
Refactoring the monolithic application into microservices and deploying each as a separate Deployment in GKE aligns with cloud-native principles, enabling independent scaling, fault isolation, and easier updates. This approach improves scalability and reliability by allowing each microservice to scale horizontally based on demand, and failures in one service do not cascade to others.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deploy the entire application in a single container with a large custom machine type to handle load.
Why it's wrong here
This does not improve scalability or reliability; it creates a single point of failure.
- ✓
Refactor the application into microservices and deploy each as a separate deployment in GKE.
Why this is correct
Microservices allow independent scaling and faster deployments.
- ✗
Expose the application using a simple Service of type LoadBalancer with round-robin distribution.
Why it's wrong here
A basic LoadBalancer may not handle session persistence or health checks adequately.
- ✓
Use Cloud SQL for MySQL instead of running the database in the same cluster.
Why this is correct
Managed databases provide high availability and reduce operational burden.
- ✗
Use a single Pod with multiple containers that communicate via localhost to reduce latency.
Why it's wrong here
This approach does not improve scalability; containers in the same Pod cannot scale independently.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
GKE
GKE is Google's managed Kubernetes service that automates deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications in the cloud.
Key term
Microservices
Microservices is an architectural style where a software application is built as a collection of small, independent services, each handling a specific business function and communicating over a network.
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