- A
AlloyDB
Why wrong: AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but is optimised for analytical/transactional hybrid workloads and may not be the simplest migration path for a standard PostgreSQL app.
- B
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is not PostgreSQL-compatible; it uses GoogleSQL or standard SQL with limitations.
- C
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL offers managed PostgreSQL with HA and automatic failover, minimal code changes.
- D
Compute Engine with PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Compute Engine would require manual HA setup and is not as fully managed as Cloud SQL.
Question 656 of 1,000
Cloud Digital Leader Google Cloud Products and Services Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of google cloud products and services. 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 migrate an on-premises PostgreSQL database to Google Cloud with minimal changes to the application code. They also require high availability with automatic failover. Which service 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
✓
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL provides a managed PostgreSQL service with automatic failover, read replicas, and high availability (HA) configuration. AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but is designed for high-performance analytical workloads and may require some application changes. Compute Engine would require manual setup.
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.
- ✗
AlloyDB
Why it's wrong here
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but is optimised for analytical/transactional hybrid workloads and may not be the simplest migration path for a standard PostgreSQL app.
- ✗
Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is not PostgreSQL-compatible; it uses GoogleSQL or standard SQL with limitations.
- ✓
Cloud SQL
Why this is correct
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL offers managed PostgreSQL with HA and automatic failover, minimal code changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Compute Engine with PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Compute Engine would require manual HA setup and is not as fully managed as Cloud SQL.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
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Google Cloud Products and Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Google Cloud Products and Services — This question tests Google Cloud Products and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud SQL — Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL provides a managed PostgreSQL service with automatic failover, read replicas, and high availability (HA) configuration. AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but is designed for high-performance analytical workloads and may require some application changes. Compute Engine would require manual setup.
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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