- A
Firestore
Why wrong: Document database; no traditional relational model.
- B
Cloud Spanner
Relational, strongly consistent, with backups and PITR.
- C
Cloud SQL
Fully managed relational database with backups and PITR.
- D
Cloud Bigtable
Why wrong: NoSQL, not relational.
- E
BigQuery
Why wrong: Analytics data warehouse, not transactional.
Question 234 of 1,000
PCDOE Design and Plan Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design and plan database solutions. 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 startup is building a mobile app with a relational database backend. They expect moderate traffic and need strong consistency, automatic backups, and point-in-time recovery. Which two Google Cloud database services meet these requirements? (Choose TWO.)
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 Spanner
Cloud Spanner is correct because it provides strong consistency across globally distributed data using TrueTime and synchronous replication, along with automatic backups and point-in-time recovery. Cloud SQL is correct because it offers fully managed relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server) with automated backups and point-in-time recovery, meeting the need for strong consistency and moderate traffic.
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.
- ✗
Firestore
Why it's wrong here
Document database; no traditional relational model.
- ✓
Cloud Spanner
Why this is correct
Relational, strongly consistent, with backups and PITR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Cloud SQL
Why this is correct
Fully managed relational database with backups and PITR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud Bigtable
Why it's wrong here
NoSQL, not relational.
- ✗
BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
Analytics data warehouse, not transactional.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud certifications often test the distinction between relational and NoSQL databases, trapping candidates who assume Firestore or Bigtable can serve as relational backends with strong consistency, when in fact they sacrifice consistency for scalability or are designed for different use cases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner uses TrueTime (Google's globally synchronized clock) to enforce external consistency and linearizability, enabling strong consistency across regions without sacrificing availability. Cloud SQL's point-in-time recovery relies on binary log (binlog) for MySQL or write-ahead log (WAL) for PostgreSQL, allowing restoration to any second within the backup retention window, which is critical for compliance and data integrity in moderate-traffic applications.
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
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design and Plan Database Solutions — This question tests Design and Plan Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Spanner — Cloud Spanner is correct because it provides strong consistency across globally distributed data using TrueTime and synchronous replication, along with automatic backups and point-in-time recovery. Cloud SQL is correct because it offers fully managed relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server) with automated backups and point-in-time recovery, meeting the need for strong consistency and moderate traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE 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: 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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