- A
StatefulSet with volumeClaimTemplates for persistent storage
Why wrong: StatefulSets are intended for stateful applications that require stable network identities and persistent storage, not for stateless microservices that need rolling updates and zone spreading.
- B
Deployment with pod anti-affinity rules spread across zones
Deployments provide rolling updates and replica management; combined with pod anti-affinity, they can ensure pods are distributed across zones for high availability.
- C
Job for batch processing
Why wrong: Jobs are for running a finite task to completion, not for long-running services that need to be always available and scaled.
- D
DaemonSet to ensure one pod per node
Why wrong: DaemonSets run a pod on every node, which is not suitable for services that should be scaled and spread across zones; they are used for node-level functions like logging or monitoring.
Google PCA Design and plan a cloud solution architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design and plan a cloud solution 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 is designing a microservices architecture on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) for a global user base. They require high availability across multiple zones, automatic scaling, and rolling updates without downtime. Which Kubernetes workload resource should they use for each service?
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
Deployment with pod anti-affinity rules spread across zones
Option C is correct because Deployments support rolling updates and pod anti-affinity can spread pods across zones for high availability. StatefulSets are for stateful workloads, DaemonSets for node-level daemons, and Jobs for batch tasks.
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.
- ✗
StatefulSet with volumeClaimTemplates for persistent storage
Why it's wrong here
StatefulSets are intended for stateful applications that require stable network identities and persistent storage, not for stateless microservices that need rolling updates and zone spreading.
- ✓
Deployment with pod anti-affinity rules spread across zones
Why this is correct
Deployments provide rolling updates and replica management; combined with pod anti-affinity, they can ensure pods are distributed across zones for high availability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Job for batch processing
Why it's wrong here
Jobs are for running a finite task to completion, not for long-running services that need to be always available and scaled.
- ✗
DaemonSet to ensure one pod per node
Why it's wrong here
DaemonSets run a pod on every node, which is not suitable for services that should be scaled and spread across zones; they are used for node-level functions like logging or monitoring.
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 PCA 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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Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — This question tests Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deployment with pod anti-affinity rules spread across zones — Option C is correct because Deployments support rolling updates and pod anti-affinity can spread pods across zones for high availability. StatefulSets are for stateful workloads, DaemonSets for node-level daemons, and Jobs for batch tasks.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Identify which PCA 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
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCA 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 PCA exam.
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