- A
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days.
Cloud SQL allows setting backup retention up to 365 days for automated backups.
- B
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 730 days.
Why wrong: The maximum retention for Cloud SQL automated backups is 365 days.
- C
Bigtable managed backups have a maximum retention of 30 days.
Why wrong: Bigtable managed backups (on-demand) are stored in Cloud Storage and have no built-in expiration limit; they can be retained indefinitely.
- D
Bigtable on-demand backups can be retained indefinitely by using Cloud Storage object lifecycle management.
Bigtable backups are stored as managed exports in Cloud Storage and can be retained indefinitely by setting lifecycle rules to prevent deletion.
- E
Cloud Spanner backup expiration can be set to a maximum of 365 days.
Spanner backups can have an expiration time up to 365 days from creation.
PCDOE Practice Question: Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design for reliability, scalability, and disaster recovery. 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 company needs to define backup retention policies for Cloud SQL, Spanner, and Bigtable to meet compliance requirements. Which THREE statements about backup retention are correct? (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
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days.
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days. Spanner backup expiration is maximum 365 days. Bigtable on-demand backups are stored in Cloud Storage and can be retained indefinitely using lifecycle policies. The other options are incorrect: Cloud SQL maximum is 365 days, Spanner maximum is 365 days, Bigtable backups are not limited to 30 days.
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.
- ✓
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days.
Why this is correct
Cloud SQL allows setting backup retention up to 365 days for automated backups.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 730 days.
Why it's wrong here
The maximum retention for Cloud SQL automated backups is 365 days.
- ✗
Bigtable managed backups have a maximum retention of 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable managed backups (on-demand) are stored in Cloud Storage and have no built-in expiration limit; they can be retained indefinitely.
- ✓
Bigtable on-demand backups can be retained indefinitely by using Cloud Storage object lifecycle management.
Why this is correct
Bigtable backups are stored as managed exports in Cloud Storage and can be retained indefinitely by setting lifecycle rules to prevent deletion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Cloud Spanner backup expiration can be set to a maximum of 365 days.
Why this is correct
Spanner backups can have an expiration time up to 365 days from creation.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCDOE 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 PCDOE question test?
Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — This question tests Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days. — Cloud SQL automated backups can be retained for up to 365 days. Spanner backup expiration is maximum 365 days. Bigtable on-demand backups are stored in Cloud Storage and can be retained indefinitely using lifecycle policies. The other options are incorrect: Cloud SQL maximum is 365 days, Spanner maximum is 365 days, Bigtable backups are not limited to 30 days.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Identify which PCDOE 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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