- A
backend "cloud" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" }
Why wrong: "cloud" is not a valid Terraform backend type.
- B
backend "local" { path = "terraform.tfstate" }
Why wrong: Local backend stores state on the local machine, not shared.
- C
backend "consul" { address = "consul.example.com" }
Why wrong: Consul backend is not GCP-native and not recommended for this scenario.
- D
backend "gcs" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" }
Correct GCS backend configuration for remote state.
Question 215 of 1,000
Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of deploying and implementing a cloud solution. 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. 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.
An engineer is using Terraform to manage GCP resources. They want to store the Terraform state file remotely so that the team can collaborate. Which backend configuration should they use?
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
✓
backend "gcs" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" }
Terraform supports storing state in GCS by using the 'gcs' backend. The bucket must be created before configuration. The 'local' backend stores state locally, which does not enable collaboration. 'cloud' is not a valid backend type. 'consul' is not GCP-native.
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.
- ✗
backend "cloud" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" }
Why it's wrong here
"cloud" is not a valid Terraform backend type.
- ✗
backend "local" { path = "terraform.tfstate" }
Why it's wrong here
Local backend stores state on the local machine, not shared.
- ✗
backend "consul" { address = "consul.example.com" }
Why it's wrong here
Consul backend is not GCP-native and not recommended for this scenario.
- ✓
backend "gcs" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" }
Why this is correct
Correct GCS backend configuration for remote state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Consul backend is not GCP-native and not recommended for this scenario.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: backend "gcs" { bucket = "my-terraform-state" } — Terraform supports storing state in GCS by using the 'gcs' backend. The bucket must be created before configuration. The 'local' backend stores state locally, which does not enable collaboration. 'cloud' is not a valid backend type. 'consul' is not GCP-native.
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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