easyMultiple Choice
PDE Practice Question: A data engineer needs to automatically delete…
A data engineer needs to automatically delete objects from a Cloud Storage bucket after 30 days and archive them to nearline storage after 7 days. Which configuration should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the order of lifecycle actions: candidates mistakenly think deletion should come before archiving, but the correct sequence is to archive first (to reduce cost) and delete later, as objects cannot be archived after deletion.
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
✓
Set a lifecycle rule to SetStorageClass to nearline after 7 days and delete after 30 days
It implements a lifecycle rule that first transitions objects to Nearline storage after 7 days (reducing costs for infrequently accessed data) and then deletes them after 30 days. This matches the requirement to archive after 7 days and delete after 30 days, using the `SetStorageClass` and `Delete` actions in the correct chronological order.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set a lifecycle rule to SetStorageClass to nearline after 30 days only
Why it's wrong here
Only the nearline transition is configured; no deletion action exists, so objects remain indefinitely and the 30-day deletion requirement is unmet. It is tempting because SetStorageClass with a 30-day age is the right syntax for the archival half, and a rule performing only class transitions would be correct if deletion were not required.
- ✗
Set a lifecycle rule to delete objects after 7 days only
Why it's wrong here
Deleting after 7 days destroys every object before the 30-day deletion requirement and never transitions anything to nearline, so both required actions fail. It is tempting because lifecycle rules with an age condition are the correct mechanism, and a 7-day deletion rule would suit a short-retention bucket.
- ✓
Set a lifecycle rule to SetStorageClass to nearline after 7 days and delete after 30 days
Why this is correct
A single lifecycle rule can hold multiple conditional actions. SetStorageClass transitions objects to Nearline after 7 days, then the delete action removes them at 30 days, matching both the archival and deletion constraints in one configuration.
- ✗
Set a lifecycle rule to delete objects after 7 days and SetStorageClass to nearline after 30 days
Why it's wrong here
The two ages are transposed: deletion at 7 days removes objects before the nearline transition at 30 days can ever occur, so objects are lost rather than archived. It is tempting because it uses both required actions—SetStorageClass and deletion—within one lifecycle configuration, which is the correct structure.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PDE 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 PDE exam.