- A
HorizontalPodAutoscaler can use custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring.
HPA supports custom metrics via the custom.metrics.k8s.io API.
- B
Kubernetes Secrets are encrypted at rest by default.
Why wrong: Secrets are base64 encoded, not encrypted; encryption requires configuration.
- C
A zonal GKE cluster automatically uses regional persistent disks for high availability.
Why wrong: Regional persistent disks provide multi-zone access; zonal clusters use zonal disks by default.
- D
PodDisruptionBudget can be used to ensure a minimum number of pods are available during node repair.
PodDisruptionBudget protects against voluntary disruptions like node repair.
- E
To expose a Deployment externally, you must create an Ingress resource.
Why wrong: You can also use a Service of type LoadBalancer or NodePort.
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. 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.
Which TWO statements about deploying applications on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) are correct?
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
HorizontalPodAutoscaler can use custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring.
HorizontalPodAutoscaler (HPA) in GKE can scale pods based on custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring (formerly Stackdriver). This is achieved by using the custom.metrics.k8s.io API, which allows HPA to query metrics like custom application latency or queue depth, not just default CPU/memory. This enables fine-grained, application-specific autoscaling.
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.
- ✓
HorizontalPodAutoscaler can use custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring.
Why this is correct
HPA supports custom metrics via the custom.metrics.k8s.io API.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Kubernetes Secrets are encrypted at rest by default.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets are base64 encoded, not encrypted; encryption requires configuration.
- ✗
A zonal GKE cluster automatically uses regional persistent disks for high availability.
Why it's wrong here
Regional persistent disks provide multi-zone access; zonal clusters use zonal disks by default.
- ✓
PodDisruptionBudget can be used to ensure a minimum number of pods are available during node repair.
Why this is correct
PodDisruptionBudget protects against voluntary disruptions like node repair.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
To expose a Deployment externally, you must create an Ingress resource.
Why it's wrong here
You can also use a Service of type LoadBalancer or NodePort.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that Secrets are encrypted by default, but the trap here is that base64 encoding is not encryption, and candidates overlook the need for explicit encryption configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, HPA with custom metrics requires the metrics server and a custom metrics adapter (e.g., the Stackdriver adapter) to translate Cloud Monitoring metrics into the Kubernetes custom.metrics.k8s.io API. A real-world scenario: an e-commerce app uses HPA with custom metrics like 'requests per second' from Cloud Monitoring to scale checkout pods during flash sales, avoiding over-provisioning. Note that HPA's behavior can be fine-tuned with stabilization windows and scaling policies to prevent thrashing.
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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: HorizontalPodAutoscaler can use custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring. — HorizontalPodAutoscaler (HPA) in GKE can scale pods based on custom metrics from Cloud Monitoring (formerly Stackdriver). This is achieved by using the custom.metrics.k8s.io API, which allows HPA to query metrics like custom application latency or queue depth, not just default CPU/memory. This enables fine-grained, application-specific autoscaling.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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