- A
Dual-region instance configuration.
Why wrong: Dual-region instance configuration is limited to two regions within one continent, so it does not provide low write latency across North America and Europe.
- B
Enable autoscaling with processing units.
Enabling autoscaling with processing units adjusts capacity based on demand, allowing the company to pay only for the capacity they use, controlling costs.
- C
Multi-region instance configuration (e.g., nam3, eur3).
Multi-region instance configuration spans continents, reducing write latency for users in North America and Europe while maintaining strong consistency.
- D
Use a fixed number of nodes to simplify management.
Why wrong: Using a fixed number of nodes does not provide cost control because you pay for provisioned nodes regardless of actual usage; autoscaling is preferred.
- E
Set up a read replica in each continent.
Setting up read replicas in each continent reduces read latency for users and offloads reads from the primary, which can indirectly improve write performance by reducing load on the write regions.
PCD Cloud Spanner multi-region instance Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in google cloud. 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. A key principle to apply: cloud Spanner multi-region instance. 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 is deploying a Cloud Spanner database for a global application. They need to minimize write latency for users in North America and Europe while ensuring strong consistency. They also want to control costs by only paying for the capacity they use. Which THREE features should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Enable autoscaling with processing units.
A multi-region instance configuration (e.g., nam3, eur3) spans continents, reducing write latency for users in North America and Europe while maintaining strong consistency. Enabling autoscaling with processing units adjusts capacity based on demand, allowing the company to pay only for the capacity they use, controlling costs. Setting up read replicas in each continent reduces read latency for users and offloads reads from the primary, which can indirectly improve write performance by reducing load. The other options are incorrect: a dual-region instance configuration is limited to two regions within one continent and does not provide global write performance; a fixed number of nodes does not allow cost control since you pay for provisioned nodes regardless of usage.
Key principle: Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Dual-region instance configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Dual-region instance configuration is limited to two regions within one continent, so it does not provide low write latency across North America and Europe.
- ✓
Enable autoscaling with processing units.
Why this is correct
Enabling autoscaling with processing units adjusts capacity based on demand, allowing the company to pay only for the capacity they use, controlling costs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
- ✓
Multi-region instance configuration (e.g., nam3, eur3).
Why this is correct
Multi-region instance configuration spans continents, reducing write latency for users in North America and Europe while maintaining strong consistency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
- ✗
Use a fixed number of nodes to simplify management.
Why it's wrong here
Using a fixed number of nodes does not provide cost control because you pay for provisioned nodes regardless of actual usage; autoscaling is preferred.
- ✓
Set up a read replica in each continent.
Why this is correct
Setting up read replicas in each continent reduces read latency for users and offloads reads from the primary, which can indirectly improve write performance by reducing load on the write regions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume dual-region or read replicas provide global write performance, but only multi-region instances ensure strong consistency and low write latency across continents. Read replicas help with read performance but can also reduce load on write regions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
- Autoscaling with processing units
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
Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloud Spanner multi-region instance, then practise related PCD questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — This question tests Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — Cloud Spanner multi-region instance.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable autoscaling with processing units. — A multi-region instance configuration (e.g., nam3, eur3) spans continents, reducing write latency for users in North America and Europe while maintaining strong consistency. Enabling autoscaling with processing units adjusts capacity based on demand, allowing the company to pay only for the capacity they use, controlling costs. Setting up read replicas in each continent reduces read latency for users and offloads reads from the primary, which can indirectly improve write performance by reducing load. The other options are incorrect: a dual-region instance configuration is limited to two regions within one continent and does not provide global write performance; a fixed number of nodes does not allow cost control since you pay for provisioned nodes regardless of usage.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Review cloud Spanner multi-region instance, then practise related PCD questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cloud Spanner multi-region instance
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCD 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 PCD exam.
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