- A
Use Cloud Spanner with a multi-region configuration that includes the required region
Cloud Spanner provides strong consistency, horizontal scaling, and multi-region support to meet residency and performance requirements.
- B
Use BigQuery with a multi-region dataset
Why wrong: BigQuery is an analytical data warehouse, not suited for transactional workloads requiring strong consistency.
- C
Use Cloud SQL with cross-region replication
Why wrong: Cloud SQL replication is asynchronous and does not guarantee strong consistency or low-latency reads globally.
- D
Use Firestore in multi-region mode
Why wrong: Firestore offers eventually consistent queries by default; strong consistency requires specific operations and may impact latency.
Question 502 of 1,000
mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Cloud Spanner Data Residency
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of cloud spanner multi-region configuration. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: cloud Spanner multi-region configuration. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A global company must store customer data in a specific geographic region to comply with data residency regulations. The database needs strong transactional consistency and low-latency reads worldwide. Which database solution should they choose?
Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud Spanner with a multi-region configuration that includes the required region. This is correct because Cloud Spanner is the only Google Cloud database that provides strong transactional consistency across globally distributed replicas while allowing you to enforce data residency by selecting specific regions for your instance. For the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of how to balance compliance requirements with performance needs—a common scenario where candidates mistakenly choose Firestore for its multi-region capability, forgetting that Firestore does not guarantee strong consistency for all operations. The key trap is assuming any multi-region database meets residency rules, but only Spanner’s regional or multi-region placement lets you pin data to a specific geographic area while still serving low-latency reads worldwide. Memory tip: think “Spanner spans regions with strong consistency” to remember it handles both residency and global transactions.
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
✓
Use Cloud Spanner with a multi-region configuration that includes the required region
Cloud Spanner is the ideal choice because it provides strong transactional consistency, horizontal scaling, and multi-region configurations that can include the required geographic region for data residency, while also offering low-latency reads globally through its global distribution. Option B (BigQuery) is for analytics, not transactional workloads. Option C (Cloud SQL with cross-region replication) does not provide the same level of consistency and scalability as Cloud Spanner, and replication may have latency. Option D (Firestore) in multi-region mode offers eventual consistency for some operations, not strong consistency.
Key principle: Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use Cloud Spanner with a multi-region configuration that includes the required region
Why this is correct
Cloud Spanner provides strong consistency, horizontal scaling, and multi-region support to meet residency and performance requirements.
Related concept
Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
- ✗
Use BigQuery with a multi-region dataset
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is an analytical data warehouse, not suited for transactional workloads requiring strong consistency.
- ✗
Use Cloud SQL with cross-region replication
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL replication is asynchronous and does not guarantee strong consistency or low-latency reads globally.
- ✗
Use Firestore in multi-region mode
Why it's wrong here
Firestore offers eventually consistent queries by default; strong consistency requires specific operations and may impact latency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
- Strong transactional consistency
- Data residency
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloud Spanner multi-region configuration, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCSE question test?
Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Cloud Spanner with a multi-region configuration that includes the required region — Cloud Spanner is the ideal choice because it provides strong transactional consistency, horizontal scaling, and multi-region configurations that can include the required geographic region for data residency, while also offering low-latency reads globally through its global distribution. Option B (BigQuery) is for analytics, not transactional workloads. Option C (Cloud SQL with cross-region replication) does not provide the same level of consistency and scalability as Cloud Spanner, and replication may have latency. Option D (Firestore) in multi-region mode offers eventual consistency for some operations, not strong consistency.
What should I do if I get this PCSE question wrong?
Review cloud Spanner multi-region configuration, then practise related PCSE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCSE 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 PCSE exam.
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