Google PCA Practice Question: Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of designing and planning a cloud solution architecture. 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 runs a web application on GKE and wants to expose it to the internet using a global HTTP(S) load balancer with Cloud CDN. Which TWO GCP resources are required to configure this setup? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Kubernetes Ingress resource with a GCE ingress controller
An Ingress resource with the ingress-gce controller (or a standalone NEG) is needed to route traffic from the load balancer to GKE services. A backend service defines the health checks and traffic distribution.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Kubernetes Ingress resource with a GCE ingress controller
Why this is correct
Ingress with GCE controller creates an external HTTP(S) load balancer and integrates with Cloud CDN.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Cloud NAT gateway
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound internet access, not for exposing services.
✓
Backend service with health check configuration
Why this is correct
Backend services are essential for the load balancer to route traffic and perform health checks.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
A Kubernetes Service of type LoadBalancer
Why it's wrong here
Service of type LoadBalancer creates a regional TCP/UDPload balancer, not a global HTTP(S) LB with CDN.
✗
Cloud VPN tunnel
Why it's wrong here
VPN is for hybrid connectivity, not for exposing web apps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PCA question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — This question tests Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Kubernetes Ingress resource with a GCE ingress controller — An Ingress resource with the ingress-gce controller (or a standalone NEG) is needed to route traffic from the load balancer to GKE services. A backend service defines the health checks and traffic distribution.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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