- A
Cloud Logging
Cloud Logging is a fully managed service for storing and querying log data.
- B
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Cloud SQL is not serverless and requires instance management.
- C
Firestore
Firestore is serverless, supports flexible schema, and real-time queries.
- D
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is not serverless; it requires capacity planning and is not optimized for log analytics.
- E
BigQuery
BigQuery is serverless and designed for analytics on large datasets.
Question 240 of 999
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. 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 needs to store and analyze large amounts of log data with flexible schema and support for real-time analytics. They want to use a fully managed, serverless solution. Which THREE Google Cloud services could meet their needs? (Choose three.)
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 Logging
BigQuery is a serverless data warehouse ideal for analyzing large volumes of log data with SQL-based analytics. Cloud Logging is a fully managed service for storing, querying, and analyzing log data in real time. Firestore is a serverless NoSQL document database with flexible schema and real-time listeners, suitable for storing semi-structured log data and enabling real-time dashboards. Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL is relational and not serverless, making it less suitable for log analytics. Cloud Spanner is a globally distributed relational database but is not serverless and is overkill for log storage and analysis. Therefore, the correct combination is Cloud Logging (A), Firestore (C), and BigQuery (E).
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.
- ✓
Cloud Logging
Why this is correct
Cloud Logging is a fully managed service for storing and querying log data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL is not serverless and requires instance management.
- ✓
Firestore
Why this is correct
Firestore is serverless, supports flexible schema, and real-time queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is not serverless; it requires capacity planning and is not optimized for log analytics.
- ✓
BigQuery
Why this is correct
BigQuery is serverless and designed for analytics on large datasets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Cloud Logging — BigQuery is a serverless data warehouse ideal for analyzing large volumes of log data with SQL-based analytics. Cloud Logging is a fully managed service for storing, querying, and analyzing log data in real time. Firestore is a serverless NoSQL document database with flexible schema and real-time listeners, suitable for storing semi-structured log data and enabling real-time dashboards. Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL is relational and not serverless, making it less suitable for log analytics. Cloud Spanner is a globally distributed relational database but is not serverless and is overkill for log storage and analysis. Therefore, the correct combination is Cloud Logging (A), Firestore (C), and BigQuery (E).
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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