- A
Place all resources in the same zone to simplify management
Why wrong: Same zone does not provide zone-level fault tolerance.
- B
Use a regional managed instance group for the web frontend
Regional MIG distributes instances across multiple zones.
- C
Use a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance with cross-zone replication
Cloud SQL with cross-zone replication provides high availability.
- D
Configure the database as a single large instance with automatic backups
Why wrong: Single instance is not highly available; backups do not provide failover.
- E
Deploy the web frontend in a single zone to reduce network latency
Why wrong: Single zone introduces a single point of failure.
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 wants to deploy a multi-tier web application on Google Cloud that requires high availability across zones. The application consists of a stateless web frontend and a stateful database backend. Which TWO actions should the company take to meet the high availability requirement? (Select two.)
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
Use a regional managed instance group for the web frontend
To achieve high availability across zones, the frontend should be deployed in multiple zones behind a load balancer, and the database should be configured with replication across zones. Using a single large instance for the database creates a single point of failure. Regional managed instance groups distribute instances across zones.
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.
- ✗
Place all resources in the same zone to simplify management
Why it's wrong here
Same zone does not provide zone-level fault tolerance.
- ✓
Use a regional managed instance group for the web frontend
Why this is correct
Regional MIG distributes instances across multiple zones.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance with cross-zone replication
Why this is correct
Cloud SQL with cross-zone replication provides high availability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure the database as a single large instance with automatic backups
Why it's wrong here
Single instance is not highly available; backups do not provide failover.
- ✗
Deploy the web frontend in a single zone to reduce network latency
Why it's wrong here
Single zone introduces a single point of failure.
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 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 GCDL 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.
- →
Fundamental Cloud Concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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: Use a regional managed instance group for the web frontend — To achieve high availability across zones, the frontend should be deployed in multiple zones behind a load balancer, and the database should be configured with replication across zones. Using a single large instance for the database creates a single point of failure. Regional managed instance groups distribute instances across zones.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL 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 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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