- A
Compute Engine with managed instance groups
Why wrong: MIGs can autoscale but do not scale to zero (minimum 1 VM) and charge for running VMs even when idle.
- B
Cloud Functions
Why wrong: Cloud Functions also scales to zero and is serverless, but it is designed for single-purpose functions, not containerized applications. The requirement specifies deploying from a container.
- C
Cloud Run
Cloud Run scales to zero, charges only for request duration, and supports HTTP-triggered containers. It is the best fit.
- D
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with cluster autoscaling
Why wrong: GKE cluster autoscaling can scale nodes down to zero, but the control plane and any remaining infrastructure incur cost. It is also overkill for a simple stateless HTTP app.
Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of deploying and implementing a cloud solution. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 developer wants to deploy a containerized application on Google Cloud that automatically scales to zero when not in use and charges only for request processing time. The application is stateless and can be triggered by HTTP requests. Which compute option meets these requirements?
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
Cloud Run
Cloud Run is a fully managed serverless platform that scales to zero and charges per request. It is ideal for stateless HTTP-triggered containers. Compute Engine and GKE do not scale to zero (idle resources incur cost). Cloud Functions is also serverless but is for event-driven code, not containerized apps.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Compute Engine with managed instance groups
Why it's wrong here
MIGs can autoscale but do not scale to zero (minimum 1 VM) and charge for running VMs even when idle.
- ✗
Cloud Functions
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Functions also scales to zero and is serverless, but it is designed for single-purpose functions, not containerized applications. The requirement specifies deploying from a container.
- ✓
Cloud Run
Why this is correct
Cloud Run scales to zero, charges only for request duration, and supports HTTP-triggered containers. It is the best fit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with cluster autoscaling
Why it's wrong here
GKE cluster autoscaling can scale nodes down to zero, but the control plane and any remaining infrastructure incur cost. It is also overkill for a simple stateless HTTP app.
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which ACE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — This question tests Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Run — Cloud Run is a fully managed serverless platform that scales to zero and charges per request. It is ideal for stateless HTTP-triggered containers. Compute Engine and GKE do not scale to zero (idle resources incur cost). Cloud Functions is also serverless but is for event-driven code, not containerized apps.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which ACE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This ACE 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 ACE exam.
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