- A
Add a secondary cluster in a different region.
Replication across regions provides HA and enables read from each cluster.
- B
Create the instance with HDD storage to reduce costs.
Why wrong: HDD provides lower throughput and higher latency, unsuitable for high-throughput writes.
- C
Use a development instance type.
Why wrong: Development instances have limited throughput and no SLA, not for production.
- D
Enable autoscaling for the primary cluster only.
Why wrong: Autoscaling is a scaling feature, not a direct HA measure across regions.
- E
Configure replication between the clusters.
Replication must be enabled to keep clusters in sync for HA and read scalability.
Question 157 of 999
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud →mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
PCD Practice Question: Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in google cloud. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company is deploying Cloud Bigtable for a high-throughput write-heavy workload. They need high availability and read scalability across two GCP regions. Which TWO actions should they take? (Choose 2.)
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
✓
Add a secondary cluster in a different region.
Option A is correct because adding a secondary cluster in a different region provides high availability and read scalability for Cloud Bigtable. With a multi-cluster instance, if the primary cluster fails, the secondary cluster can serve traffic, and read requests can be routed to the closest cluster for lower latency and load distribution.
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.
- ✓
Add a secondary cluster in a different region.
Why this is correct
Replication across regions provides HA and enables read from each cluster.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create the instance with HDD storage to reduce costs.
Why it's wrong here
HDD provides lower throughput and higher latency, unsuitable for high-throughput writes.
- ✗
Use a development instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Development instances have limited throughput and no SLA, not for production.
- ✗
Enable autoscaling for the primary cluster only.
Why it's wrong here
Autoscaling is a scaling feature, not a direct HA measure across regions.
- ✓
Configure replication between the clusters.
Why this is correct
Replication must be enabled to keep clusters in sync for HA and read scalability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think autoscaling or instance type choices address high availability, but only cross-region replication with a secondary cluster provides the required geographic redundancy and read scalability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Bigtable uses a multi-cluster routing policy where each cluster in a replicated instance can independently serve reads and writes, with replication occurring asynchronously via the Bigtable replication protocol. In a real-world scenario, if the primary region experiences an outage, the secondary cluster can immediately serve reads and, with proper application logic, accept writes, ensuring near-continuous availability. The replication lag is typically sub-second but can vary based on network conditions and write volume.
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 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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a secondary cluster in a different region. — Option A is correct because adding a secondary cluster in a different region provides high availability and read scalability for Cloud Bigtable. With a multi-cluster instance, if the primary cluster fails, the secondary cluster can serve traffic, and read requests can be routed to the closest cluster for lower latency and load distribution.
What should I do if I get this PCD 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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