- A
Configure a Cloud Scheduler job to check CPU utilization and publish to Pub/Sub
Why wrong: Cloud Scheduler is not designed for monitoring and alerting; it would require custom code and lacks integration.
- B
Create a log-based alert for CPU utilization using Logging and route to email and Pub/Sub
Why wrong: CPU utilization is a metric, not a log entry. Log-based alerts are for log entries, not metrics.
- C
Create a Cloud Monitoring alerting policy with a metric threshold condition on CPU utilization and add both email and Pub/Sub notification channels
This is the correct approach. Metric threshold conditions trigger on CPU utilization, and multiple notification channels can be added.
- D
Use Cloud Functions to poll the Cloud Monitoring API every minute and send notifications
Why wrong: This is an overly complex and less reliable solution compared to using native alerting policies.
Google PCA Practice Question: Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of managing implementation and ensuring solution and operations reliability. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
An organization wants to receive alerts when their Cloud SQL instance's CPU utilization exceeds 80% for 5 minutes. They want to send the alert to both email and a Pub/Sub topic for further processing. What should they do?
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
Create a Cloud Monitoring alerting policy with a metric threshold condition on CPU utilization and add both email and Pub/Sub notification channels
In Cloud Monitoring, an alerting policy can have multiple notification channels (email, Pub/Sub, PagerDuty, SMS). The CPU utilization metric is available via the 'cloudsql.googleapis.com' metric type.
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.
- ✗
Configure a Cloud Scheduler job to check CPU utilization and publish to Pub/Sub
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Scheduler is not designed for monitoring and alerting; it would require custom code and lacks integration.
- ✗
Create a log-based alert for CPU utilization using Logging and route to email and Pub/Sub
Why it's wrong here
CPU utilization is a metric, not a log entry. Log-based alerts are for log entries, not metrics.
- ✓
Create a Cloud Monitoring alerting policy with a metric threshold condition on CPU utilization and add both email and Pub/Sub notification channels
Why this is correct
This is the correct approach. Metric threshold conditions trigger on CPU utilization, and multiple notification channels can be added.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud Functions to poll the Cloud Monitoring API every minute and send notifications
Why it's wrong here
This is an overly complex and less reliable solution compared to using native alerting policies.
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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
- →
Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — This question tests Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Cloud Monitoring alerting policy with a metric threshold condition on CPU utilization and add both email and Pub/Sub notification channels — In Cloud Monitoring, an alerting policy can have multiple notification channels (email, Pub/Sub, PagerDuty, SMS). The CPU utilization metric is available via the 'cloudsql.googleapis.com' metric type.
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
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 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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