Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of manage implementation of cloud architecture. 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.
A company has a requirement to store application logs for 7 years for compliance. They are using Cloud Logging. What is the most cost-effective way to retain logs?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Export logs to Cloud Storage with Object Lifecycle management to delete after 7 years
Cloud Logging's default retention is limited (e.g., 30 days for logs in the default _Default bucket, and up to 365 days for custom log buckets). To meet a 7-year compliance requirement cost-effectively, you should export logs to Cloud Storage and use Object Lifecycle Management to delete objects after 7 years. Cloud Storage offers lower long-term storage costs than retaining logs in Logging's _Required or custom buckets, and lifecycle rules automate deletion without ongoing compute costs.
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.
✗
Set the log bucket retention to 7 years
Why it's wrong here
Log retention in Cloud Logging incurs costs and is more expensive than Cloud Storage.
✓
Export logs to Cloud Storage with Object Lifecycle management to delete after 7 years
Why this is correct
Cloud Storage is cost-effective for long-term retention with lifecycle rules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Export logs to BigQuery and run scheduled queries to delete old data
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery storage and queries are more costly for long-term archival.
✗
Use Cloud Logging's default retention and rely on backups
Why it's wrong here
Default retention is 30 days, insufficient for 7 years.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Cloud Logging's retention settings can be extended arbitrarily, but the exam tests knowledge that log buckets have a hard 365-day maximum (except _Required at 400 days), making export to Cloud Storage with lifecycle rules the only viable long-term, cost-effective solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Logging uses log buckets (e.g., _Default, _Required) with configurable retention up to 365 days for custom buckets; the _Required bucket is fixed at 400 days. Exporting to Cloud Storage leverages the 'Archive' storage class for cost savings, and Object Lifecycle Management can use the 'Delete' action with an 'Age' condition set to 2555 days (7 years). This approach avoids the higher per-GB costs of Logging's indexed storage and BigQuery's storage and analysis fees.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PCA question in full detail.
Manage implementation of cloud architecture — This question tests Manage implementation of cloud architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Export logs to Cloud Storage with Object Lifecycle management to delete after 7 years — Cloud Logging's default retention is limited (e.g., 30 days for logs in the default _Default bucket, and up to 365 days for custom log buckets). To meet a 7-year compliance requirement cost-effectively, you should export logs to Cloud Storage and use Object Lifecycle Management to delete objects after 7 years. Cloud Storage offers lower long-term storage costs than retaining logs in Logging's _Required or custom buckets, and lifecycle rules automate deletion without ongoing compute costs.
What should I do if I get this PCA 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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