PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
A startup is deploying a microservices application on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). They want to expose a service to the internet using a load balancer that provides SSL termination and supports WebSocket. Which type of Service should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that an Ingress resource is always required for SSL termination and WebSocket support, but in GKE, a LoadBalancer Service with an HTTP(S) load balancer directly provides these features without the complexity of Ingress.
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
✓
Create a Service of type LoadBalancer with an HTTP(S) load balancer.
A Service of type LoadBalancer with an HTTP(S) load balancer is correct because it provides a public IP address, handles SSL termination at the load balancer level, and natively supports WebSocket connections without additional configuration. This is the simplest and most direct way to expose a microservice to the internet with these requirements on GKE.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a Service of type ClusterIP and use an Ingress resource with a backendConfig.
Why it's wrong here
ClusterIP is internal; Ingress can expose it, but the Service type should be NodePort or LoadBalancer for Ingress.
- ✓
Create a Service of type LoadBalancer with an HTTP(S) load balancer.
Why this is correct
GKE integrates with Cloud Load Balancing; HTTP(S) LB supports SSL and WebSocket.
- ✗
Create a Service of type NodePort and configure an external TCP/UDP load balancer.
Why it's wrong here
NodePort requires manual configuration and does not support SSL termination at the LB.
- ✗
Create a Headless Service with an external DNS A record pointing to the pod IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Headless Service is for discovering individual pods, not for load balancing.
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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.