- A
Disaster recovery planning
Why wrong: Disaster recovery planning addresses business continuity in the event of failures. The application categorization described is a migration strategy exercise.
- B
Application portfolio assessment using migration strategies (the 6 Rs framework)
The 6 Rs framework (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain) categorizes each application by its appropriate migration approach — the standard framework for cloud migration planning.
- C
Capacity planning for on-premises servers
Why wrong: Capacity planning sizes on-premises infrastructure. The scenario describes categorizing applications for cloud migration, not sizing servers.
- D
Software development lifecycle (SDLC) planning
Why wrong: SDLC describes the stages of building software. The described activity is migration strategy assessment, not development lifecycle planning.
Quick Answer
The answer is application portfolio assessment using migration strategies, specifically the 6 Rs framework. This is correct because the scenario directly maps each application type to a distinct migration path: legacy apps needing significant code changes align with Refactor, custom-built apps that can be containerized and moved as-is correspond to Rehost or Replatform, and apps replaceable by SaaS solutions fit Repurchase. On the Google Cloud Digital Leader exam, this question tests your understanding of how the 6 Rs—Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, and Retain—provide a structured method for evaluating an organization’s application portfolio during cloud migration planning. A common trap is confusing “Replatform” with “Refactor,” but remember that Replatform involves minimal code changes (like containerization), while Refactor requires significant rewriting. For a quick memory tip, think of the 6 Rs as a decision tree: start by asking if an app can be Retired or Retained, then choose the least disruptive move—Rehost first, then Replatform, then Refactor, and finally Repurchase if a SaaS replacement exists.
Cloud Digital Leader Fundamental cloud concepts Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of fundamental cloud concepts. 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.
An organization wants to modernize its on-premises applications. The IT team identifies three types of applications: legacy apps that can only move with significant refactoring, custom-built apps that can be containerized and moved as-is, and applications that can be replaced entirely by SaaS solutions. This categorization approach is called what?
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
Application portfolio assessment using migration strategies (the 6 Rs framework)
The scenario describes categorizing applications based on their migration path: legacy apps requiring refactoring, custom apps suitable for containerization, and apps replaceable by SaaS. This directly aligns with the '6 Rs' framework (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain) used in application portfolio assessment for cloud migration. Option B is correct because the 6 Rs provide a structured way to evaluate and classify each application's optimal migration strategy.
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.
- ✗
Disaster recovery planning
Why it's wrong here
Disaster recovery planning addresses business continuity in the event of failures. The application categorization described is a migration strategy exercise.
- ✓
Application portfolio assessment using migration strategies (the 6 Rs framework)
Why this is correct
The 6 Rs framework (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain) categorizes each application by its appropriate migration approach — the standard framework for cloud migration planning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Capacity planning for on-premises servers
Why it's wrong here
Capacity planning sizes on-premises infrastructure. The scenario describes categorizing applications for cloud migration, not sizing servers.
- ✗
Software development lifecycle (SDLC) planning
Why it's wrong here
SDLC describes the stages of building software. The described activity is migration strategy assessment, not development lifecycle planning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the 6 Rs framework by describing a specific migration scenario and asking for the correct 'R' term; the trap here is confusing 'application portfolio assessment' with generic IT planning terms like capacity planning or SDLC, which are unrelated to migration strategy categorization.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Capacity planning sizes on-premises infrastructure. The scenario describes categorizing applications for cloud migration, not sizing servers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 6 Rs framework, formalized by AWS and adopted by other cloud providers, includes Rehost (lift-and-shift), Replatform (lift-tinker-and-shift), Refactor (re-architect), Repurchase (move to SaaS), Retire (decommission), and Retain (keep on-premises). Each 'R' corresponds to specific technical actions: for example, Refactor often involves breaking monolithic apps into microservices using containers and orchestration like Kubernetes, while Repurchase replaces custom code with SaaS APIs. In practice, a portfolio assessment using this framework helps organizations prioritize migration waves and avoid costly rework by matching each app's architecture to the most efficient migration path.
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.
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
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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Fundamental cloud concepts — This question tests Fundamental cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Application portfolio assessment using migration strategies (the 6 Rs framework) — The scenario describes categorizing applications based on their migration path: legacy apps requiring refactoring, custom apps suitable for containerization, and apps replaceable by SaaS. This directly aligns with the '6 Rs' framework (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain) used in application portfolio assessment for cloud migration. Option B is correct because the 6 Rs provide a structured way to evaluate and classify each application's optimal migration strategy.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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