Cloud Digital Leader Fundamental cloud concepts Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of fundamental cloud concepts. 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.
A company migrates its on-premises database to Cloud SQL. The security team is concerned about who is responsible for patching the underlying operating system and database engine. Under the shared responsibility model, which of the following is true?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Google Cloud is responsible for patching the operating system and database engine.
Under the Google Cloud shared responsibility model, Google Cloud manages the underlying infrastructure, including patching the operating system and database engine for managed services like Cloud SQL. This is because Cloud SQL is a fully managed service where Google Cloud handles OS and database engine updates, ensuring security and compliance without customer intervention. The customer remains responsible for data, access management, and application-level configurations.
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.
✗
The customer must patch the operating system of the Cloud SQL instances.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL is a managed service; Google handles OS patches.
✓
Google Cloud is responsible for patching the operating system and database engine.
Why this is correct
For managed services, the provider handles underlying infrastructure maintenance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The customer is responsible for physical security of the data centers.
Why it's wrong here
Physical security is always the provider's responsibility.
✗
The customer is responsible for applying database engine patches.
Why it's wrong here
Google Cloud applies database engine patches for Cloud SQL.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Cloud SQL (a managed service) with Compute Engine (IaaS), where the customer is responsible for OS and database patching, leading them to incorrectly select options A or D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL uses managed instances where Google Cloud controls the hypervisor, host OS, and database engine (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server). Patching occurs during maintenance windows, which customers can configure but cannot bypass. This differs from self-managed Compute Engine VMs, where the customer must patch both OS and database software. Understanding this distinction is critical for compliance audits (e.g., PCI DSS) where patching responsibility must be clearly documented.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this GCDL question in full detail.
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: Google Cloud is responsible for patching the operating system and database engine. — Under the Google Cloud shared responsibility model, Google Cloud manages the underlying infrastructure, including patching the operating system and database engine for managed services like Cloud SQL. This is because Cloud SQL is a fully managed service where Google Cloud handles OS and database engine updates, ensuring security and compliance without customer intervention. The customer remains responsible for data, access management, and application-level configurations.
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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Question Discussion
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