- A
Firestore
Why wrong: Firestore is NoSQL, not suitable for relational schemas.
- B
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner requires schema redesign for sharding and is more expensive.
- C
Bigtable
Why wrong: Bigtable is NoSQL, not suitable for relational schemas.
- D
Cloud SQL for SQL Server
SQL Server is a direct lift-and-shift target with managed HA.
- E
AlloyDB
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible, managed, and offers high availability with no licensing fees.
Question 84 of 999
Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions →mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
PCD Practice Question: Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of design scalable and highly available cloud database solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Google Cloud. They need a managed relational database with high availability, but they are not ready to redesign their schema for sharding. They also want to reduce licensing costs. Which TWO Google Cloud database services should they consider? (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
✓
Cloud SQL for SQL Server
Cloud SQL supports managed MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, suitable for lift-and-shift. AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible and offers high performance with a columnar engine. Both are managed and reduce licensing costs compared to Oracle.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Firestore
Why it's wrong here
Firestore is NoSQL, not suitable for relational schemas.
- ✗
Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner requires schema redesign for sharding and is more expensive.
- ✗
Bigtable
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable is NoSQL, not suitable for relational schemas.
- ✓
Cloud SQL for SQL Server
Why this is correct
SQL Server is a direct lift-and-shift target with managed HA.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✓
AlloyDB
Why this is correct
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible, managed, and offers high availability with no licensing fees.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCD ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — This question tests Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud SQL for SQL Server — Cloud SQL supports managed MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, suitable for lift-and-shift. AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible and offers high performance with a columnar engine. Both are managed and reduce licensing costs compared to Oracle.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCD ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
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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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