PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
A company is deploying a global application on Google Cloud using Cloud Load Balancing. They want to serve traffic from multiple regions and require the lowest possible latency for users worldwide. The application serves HTTP traffic and uses a static IP address. Which load balancing solution should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that any load balancer with 'HTTP(S)' in its name is automatically global, but the trap here is that only the External HTTP(S) Load Balancer with Premium Tier provides global anycast routing; the Internal and SSL Proxy variants are regional, and the Network Load Balancer is Layer 4 only.
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
✓
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer with Premium Tier
The External HTTP(S) Load Balancer with Premium Tier is correct because it uses Google's global anycast IP address to route user traffic to the nearest frontend, minimizing latency worldwide. Premium Tier leverages Google's global network backbone, ensuring traffic enters and exits at the closest Google edge point of presence (PoP) for HTTP(S) traffic, which is essential for a global application requiring low latency and a static IP.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Network Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Network Load Balancer handles TCP/UDP traffic at L4, not HTTP, and does not provide global anycast routing.
- ✗
Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer is designed for internal traffic within a VPC and does not serve external users.
- ✗
SSL Proxy Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
SSL Proxy Load Balancer terminates SSL/TLS and forwards TCP traffic; it does not provide the same global anycast optimization for HTTP as the HTTP(S) LB.
- ✓
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer with Premium Tier
Why this is correct
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer with Premium Tier uses Google's global network and anycast IP to direct users to the nearest backend, minimizing latency.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCNE 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 PCNE exam.