PCDE Practice Question: Manage a solution that can span multiple database technologies
A company is migrating on-premises PostgreSQL databases to Cloud SQL. They need to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which THREE steps should they follow? (Choose 3)
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 Database Migration Service to set up continuous replication from the on-premises database.
A typical migration uses Database Migration Service (DMS) with continuous replication for minimal downtime. Setting up replication and then promoting the Cloud SQL instance is standard.
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 Database Migration Service to set up continuous replication from the on-premises database.
Why this is correct
Correct. DMS supports homogeneous PostgreSQL migrations with minimal downtime.
- ✗
Export the on-premises database to a dump file and import it into Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
This would cause downtime; continuous replication is better.
- ✗
Manually sync data using a custom script with pg_dump and pg_restore.
Why it's wrong here
Not recommended when DMS is available.
- ✓
After replication is caught up, promote the Cloud SQL instance to make it the primary.
Why this is correct
Correct. Promoting ends replication and makes Cloud SQL the primary.
- ✓
Create a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance with the same version as the source.
Why this is correct
Correct. The target instance must be compatible with the source version.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every PCDE question from scratch — 1,446 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCDE 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 PCDE exam.