PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
A company is deploying an internal HTTP application on Compute Engine instances. The application must be load-balanced across multiple instances in different regions, but only accessible from within the same VPC. Which load balancer type meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that any 'internal' load balancer can handle HTTP traffic, but the Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer (option D) operates at layer 4 and cannot inspect or route HTTP application-layer data, making it unsuitable for an HTTP application.
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
✓
Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer
An Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer is a regional, internal-only load balancer that distributes HTTP/HTTPS traffic among Compute Engine instances within the same VPC network. It uses an internal IP address and is not accessible from outside the VPC, meeting the requirement for internal-only access while providing cross-region load balancing via a multi-region backend service.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why this is correct
Internal HTTP(S) LB can be configured with backends in multiple regions and is internal to the VPC.
- ✗
External TCP/UDP Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
External TCP/UDP LB is public and not suitable for internal-only traffic.
- ✗
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
External HTTP(S) LB is internet-facing, not accessible only from within the VPC.
- ✗
Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Internal TCP/UDP LB does not support HTTP protocol; it's for TCP/UDP traffic.
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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.