PCNE Practice Question: Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations
A network engineer is investigating packet loss between two GCP regions using the Performance Dashboard. The dashboard shows high packet loss but no corresponding latency increase. What is the most likely cause of this packet loss?
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
✓
Normal network behavior; small packet loss is expected
The Performance Dashboard measures packet loss and latency between regions. Packet loss without latency increase often indicates transient congestion or minor issues that cause drops but not queuing delay. It is normal to see some loss; the dashboard shows real measurements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Normal network behavior; small packet loss is expected
Why this is correct
The Performance Dashboard shows actual network conditions; some packet loss is normal.
- ✗
A misconfigured firewall rule blocking ICMP
Why it's wrong here
ICMP blocking would show 100% loss for pings, not partial loss.
- ✗
A BGP session flap on Cloud Router
Why it's wrong here
BGP flaps would affect routes, not packet loss between regions.
- ✗
Cloud Armor blocking traffic
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor operates at the application layer, not affecting packet-level loss.
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JA
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.