Select the Right Hybrid Connectivity: Dedicated vs Partner Interconnect
A company is designing a hybrid network architecture to connect their on-premises data center to Google Cloud. They need high availability and bandwidth of at least 10 Gbps. Which connectivity option meets these requirements?
Quick Answer
The correct choice is Dedicated Interconnect with two 10 Gbps circuits to different edge locations, as this directly satisfies both the 10 Gbps bandwidth requirement and the need for high availability. Dedicated Interconnect provides direct, private physical connections between your on-premises network and Google Cloud, with each circuit supporting up to 10 Gbps or 100 Gbps, and by deploying two circuits to distinct edge availability domains, you achieve automatic failover and an SLA-backed 99.99% uptime. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Dedicated Interconnect differs from Partner Interconnect, which typically caps at 1 Gbps per VLAN attachment and lacks the same physical diversity for high availability. A common trap is assuming Partner Interconnect can scale to 10 Gbps, but its bandwidth is limited by the partner’s aggregation, while Cloud VPN maxes out at 3 Gbps per tunnel and Direct Peering offers no SLA. Remember the memory tip: “Two tens to two edges” — two 10 Gbps circuits to two different edge locations for true high availability.
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that Cloud VPN can achieve 10 Gbps by using multiple tunnels, but the per-tunnel and per-VPN gateway throughput limits (typically 3 Gbps) make it unsuitable for sustained 10 Gbps traffic, while Dedicated Interconnect provides dedicated physical circuits with guaranteed bandwidth.
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
✓
Dedicated Interconnect with two circuits (each 10 Gbps) to different edge locations
Dedicated Interconnect with two 10 Gbps circuits to different edge locations meets the 10 Gbps bandwidth requirement and provides high availability through diverse physical paths. Cloud VPN maxes out at 3 Gbps per tunnel, Direct Peering does not offer SLA-backed bandwidth or support for 10 Gbps single connections, and Partner Interconnect typically caps at 1 Gbps per VLAN attachment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cloud VPN with two tunnels to different gateways
Why it's wrong here
Cloud VPN provides up to 3 Gbps per tunnel and requires multiple tunnels for HA, but bandwidth is insufficient for 10 Gbps.
- ✓
Dedicated Interconnect with two circuits (each 10 Gbps) to different edge locations
Why this is correct
Dedicated Interconnect offers 10 Gbps per circuit and with two circuits provides HA and meets bandwidth requirement.
- ✗
Direct Peering with multiple BGP sessions
Why it's wrong here
Direct Peering is not an SLA-backed connectivity option and bandwidth is not guaranteed for production.
- ✗
Partner Interconnect with 1 Gbps VLAN attachments
Why it's wrong here
Partner Interconnect can provide 10 Gbps but typically requires multiple VLAN attachments; however, 1 Gbps is below requirement.
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Variation 1. A company is designing a hybrid network architecture to connect their on-premises data center to Google Cloud. They need high availability and bandwidth up to 10 Gbps. Which connectivity option should they choose?
medium- A.VPN with Cloud Router
- B.Direct Peering
- C.Dedicated Interconnect with a single connection
- ✓ D.Partner Interconnect with redundant connections
Why D: The requirement for high availability (redundancy) and bandwidth up to 10 Gbps is best met by Partner Interconnect with redundant connections. Partner Interconnect supports bandwidths from 50 Mbps to 10 Gbps and allows you to connect through a supported service provider, while redundant connections ensure failover and meet the high-availability requirement. Dedicated Interconnect offers up to 10 Gbps per circuit but requires two separate connections for high availability, not a single connection.
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.