- A
Use Cloud Spanner's built-in global replication by creating a multi-region instance spanning both regions.
A multi-region Spanner instance automatically replicates data across regions with strong consistency.
- B
Write application code that writes to both Spanner instances in each transaction (dual-writes).
Why wrong: Dual-writes are complex, error-prone, and can lead to inconsistency.
- C
Export Spanner data to BigQuery and use federated queries in the secondary region.
Why wrong: BigQuery is for analytics, not operational replication of Spanner data.
- D
Configure Cloud Spanner multi-region instance with a read-only replica in the secondary region.
Spanner multi-region configuration provides global read replicas with strong consistency for reads.
- E
Use Cloud Spanner change streams to capture changes and replicate them to the secondary instance using Dataflow.
Change streams + Dataflow can replicate to another Spanner instance with eventual consistency.
PCD Practice Question: Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of manage a solution that can span multiple database systems. 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 global gaming company uses Cloud Spanner for player profiles and leaderboards. They want to replicate leaderboard changes to a secondary Cloud Spanner instance in another region for disaster recovery, with minimal latency. They need to ensure that all writes are eventually consistent across instances. Which THREE approaches should they consider?
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
Use Cloud Spanner's built-in global replication by creating a multi-region instance spanning both regions.
Spanner change streams can capture mutations and replicate to another instance via Pub/Sub and Dataflow. Spanner's built-in replication across regions provides strong consistency but not active-active across different instances. Using application dual-writes is error-prone. BigQuery is not suitable for operational replication.
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.
- ✓
Use Cloud Spanner's built-in global replication by creating a multi-region instance spanning both regions.
Why this is correct
A multi-region Spanner instance automatically replicates data across regions with strong consistency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Write application code that writes to both Spanner instances in each transaction (dual-writes).
Why it's wrong here
Dual-writes are complex, error-prone, and can lead to inconsistency.
- ✗
Export Spanner data to BigQuery and use federated queries in the secondary region.
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is for analytics, not operational replication of Spanner data.
- ✓
Configure Cloud Spanner multi-region instance with a read-only replica in the secondary region.
Why this is correct
Spanner multi-region configuration provides global read replicas with strong consistency for reads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use Cloud Spanner change streams to capture changes and replicate them to the secondary instance using Dataflow.
Why this is correct
Change streams + Dataflow can replicate to another Spanner instance with eventual consistency.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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?
Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems — This question tests Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Cloud Spanner's built-in global replication by creating a multi-region instance spanning both regions. — Spanner change streams can capture mutations and replicate to another instance via Pub/Sub and Dataflow. Spanner's built-in replication across regions provides strong consistency but not active-active across different instances. Using application dual-writes is error-prone. BigQuery is not suitable for operational replication.
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.
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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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