- A
Set min_instances to a value greater than 0
Setting min_instances > 0 keeps a baseline of warm instances, reducing cold starts.
- B
Set concurrency to 1
Why wrong: Setting concurrency to 1 limits requests per container, which may worsen scaling but does not prevent cold starts.
- C
Enable CPU always allocated
Why wrong: Enabling CPU always allocated keeps CPU active but does not create new instances; cold starts still occur when scaling from zero.
- D
Increase max_instances
Why wrong: Increasing max_instances only raises the instance cap, but does not keep instances warm to avoid cold starts.
Question 752 of 999
Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
PCD Cold Start Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications. 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: cold Start. 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 team deploys a containerized application on Cloud Run and notices increased latency during traffic spikes due to cold starts. Which configuration change would best address this?
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
✓
Set min_instances to a value greater than 0
Option A is correct because setting min_instances to a value greater than 0 keeps a baseline of warm instances ready to handle traffic, reducing cold starts. Option B is wrong because setting concurrency to 1 limits throughput, which can worsen scaling behavior and does not address cold starts. Option C is wrong because enabling CPU always allocated does not create new instances; it only prevents CPU throttling on existing instances. Option D is wrong because increasing max_instances only raises the upper limit of instances but does not prevent cold starts; it can help with scale but not with initial latency.
Key principle: Cold Start
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Set min_instances to a value greater than 0
Why this is correct
Setting min_instances > 0 keeps a baseline of warm instances, reducing cold starts.
Related concept
Cold Start
- ✗
Set concurrency to 1
Why it's wrong here
Setting concurrency to 1 limits requests per container, which may worsen scaling but does not prevent cold starts.
- ✗
Enable CPU always allocated
Why it's wrong here
Enabling CPU always allocated keeps CPU active but does not create new instances; cold starts still occur when scaling from zero.
- ✗
Increase max_instances
Why it's wrong here
Increasing max_instances only raises the instance cap, but does not keep instances warm to avoid cold starts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often confuse settings that affect instance scaling vs. those that keep instances warm. Increasing max_instances only sets a cap, it does not keep instances running to avoid cold starts.
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
- Cold Start
- min_instances
- max_instances
- Concurrency
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
Cold Start
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cold Start, 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?
Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — This question tests Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — Cold Start.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set min_instances to a value greater than 0 — Option A is correct because setting min_instances to a value greater than 0 keeps a baseline of warm instances ready to handle traffic, reducing cold starts. Option B is wrong because setting concurrency to 1 limits throughput, which can worsen scaling behavior and does not address cold starts. Option C is wrong because enabling CPU always allocated does not create new instances; it only prevents CPU throttling on existing instances. Option D is wrong because increasing max_instances only raises the upper limit of instances but does not prevent cold starts; it can help with scale but not with initial latency.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Review cold Start, then practise related PCD questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cold Start
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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