PCDE Practice Question: Manage a solution that can span multiple database technologies
A company runs a Memorystore for Redis cluster with standard tier (for replication). They need to ensure high durability of session data and be able to recover from a complete zone failure. Which three actions should they take? (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
✓
Schedule regular exports of the instance data to Cloud Storage using gcloud
To ensure high durability and recovery from a complete zone failure for a Memorystore for Redis cluster with standard tier (replication enabled): Option A: Regular exports to Cloud Storage provide point-in-time backups that can be restored in a different zone if needed. Option B: Cross-region replication creates a replica in another region, allowing failover if the primary zone fails. Option E: Setting up a second instance in a different zone with client-side replication allows the application to switch to the replica if the primary zone fails. Option C is incorrect because Redis Cluster with multiple shards is for horizontal scaling and does not inherently provide zone failure recovery or durability beyond what replication provides. Option D is incorrect because RDB persistence, while supported in Memorystore for Redis, only provides local recovery and does not protect against a complete zone failure; you need cross-zone or cross-region replication for that.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Schedule regular exports of the instance data to Cloud Storage using gcloud
Why this is correct
Exports can be done via the gcloud redis instances export command (or using the console) to create backups in Cloud Storage.
- ✓
Configure cross-region replication to have a replica in another region
Why this is correct
Cross-region replica provides failover capability for zone/region failure.
- ✗
Use a Redis Cluster with multiple shards for horizontal scaling
Why it's wrong here
Horizontal scaling improves performance and capacity, not durability or zone failure recovery.
- ✗
Enable RDB persistence on the primary instance
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While Memorystore for Redis supports RDB persistence, enabling it only protects against data loss within the same zone, not a complete zone failure. To recover from a zone failure, you need replication across zones or regions (options B or E).
- ✓
Set up a second instance in a different zone and use client-side replication
Why this is correct
Although Memorystore does not support native active-passive across zones for standard tier, client-side replication or using the cross-region replica feature (if available) can help. For standard tier, a read replica in a different zone can be promoted. This answer is acceptable for zone failure recovery.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,446 original PCDE practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PCDE
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your Memorystore for Redis instance needs to survive a zonal failure with minimal data loss. Which feature should you use?
easy- A.Use a Basic tier instance and schedule periodic exports to Cloud Storage.
- ✓ B.Use a Standard tier instance with replication across zones within the same region.
- C.Enable persistence with RDB snapshots stored in Cloud Storage.
- D.Create a cross-region replica (read replica in another region).
Why B: A Standard tier Memorystore for Redis instance with replication across zones provides automatic failover to a replica in a different zone, ensuring high availability and minimal data loss during a zonal failure. The Standard tier uses synchronous replication within the region, so data written to the primary is replicated to the cross-zone replica before acknowledging the write, which minimizes data loss to only in-flight transactions that were not yet committed.
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.