- A
Increase the size of the local SSD to accommodate more logs and set a longer retention period.
Why wrong: Local SSDs are ephemeral; data is lost when the instance is terminated.
- B
Configure each instance to write logs to a persistent disk that is retained after instance deletion.
Why wrong: Persistent disks are zonal resources; if the zone fails, the disk may be inaccessible, and logs may still be lost.
- C
Install the Cloud Logging agent on each instance and configure it to stream application logs to Cloud Logging.
Cloud Logging provides centralized, durable log storage independent of instance lifecycle.
- D
Mount a Cloud Storage bucket using gcsfuse on each instance and write logs directly to the bucket.
Why wrong: While possible, this approach requires application changes and may introduce performance issues; the Logging agent is a simpler and more standard solution.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to install the Cloud Logging agent on each instance and configure it to stream application logs to Cloud Logging. This solution ensures log retention survives instance failure because logs are sent to a centralized, durable service independent of the Compute Engine lifecycle, rather than being stored on ephemeral local disk. On the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the separation between compute and observability—a common trap is assuming managed instance groups or persistent disks alone preserve logs, but they do not protect against zonal outages or health check recreation that destroys the instance. The key concept is that the Cloud Logging agent acts as a streaming bridge, decoupling log data from the underlying virtual machine. For a memory tip, think of the agent as a “lifeboat” for your logs: when the instance sinks, the logs are already safe on shore in Cloud Logging.
Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of manage implementation of cloud 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.
Your company runs a critical application on Compute Engine instances in a managed instance group across three zones. The application writes logs to local disk. You are asked to improve the reliability of log retention and ensure logs are available in case of instance failure. You have already configured a health check that automatically recreates instances. However, after a recent zonal outage, logs from the affected instances were lost. You need to implement a solution that preserves logs even when instances are terminated. What should you 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
Install the Cloud Logging agent on each instance and configure it to stream application logs to Cloud Logging.
Option C is correct because the Cloud Logging agent streams logs directly to Cloud Logging (now part of Google Cloud's operations suite), which stores logs independently of the Compute Engine instances. This ensures logs are preserved even if instances are terminated due to a zonal outage or health check recreation, as logs are sent to a centralized, durable logging service rather than being stored on local disk.
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.
- ✗
Increase the size of the local SSD to accommodate more logs and set a longer retention period.
Why it's wrong here
Local SSDs are ephemeral; data is lost when the instance is terminated.
- ✗
Configure each instance to write logs to a persistent disk that is retained after instance deletion.
Why it's wrong here
Persistent disks are zonal resources; if the zone fails, the disk may be inaccessible, and logs may still be lost.
- ✓
Install the Cloud Logging agent on each instance and configure it to stream application logs to Cloud Logging.
Why this is correct
Cloud Logging provides centralized, durable log storage independent of instance lifecycle.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Mount a Cloud Storage bucket using gcsfuse on each instance and write logs directly to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this approach requires application changes and may introduce performance issues; the Logging agent is a simpler and more standard solution.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that persistent disks or Cloud Storage buckets are sufficient for log durability, but the key requirement is centralized log management with automatic streaming, which only Cloud Logging provides without additional complexity or latency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Cloud Logging agent uses the fluentd-based logging agent to collect logs from /var/log and custom log files, then sends them via the Cloud Logging API to the Logging backend, which stores logs in a highly durable, multi-region storage system. This architecture decouples log storage from compute resources, ensuring logs survive instance failures, zonal outages, and even project-level disasters. In practice, you can also configure log sinks to export logs to Cloud Storage or BigQuery for long-term retention or analysis.
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
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: Install the Cloud Logging agent on each instance and configure it to stream application logs to Cloud Logging. — Option C is correct because the Cloud Logging agent streams logs directly to Cloud Logging (now part of Google Cloud's operations suite), which stores logs independently of the Compute Engine instances. This ensures logs are preserved even if instances are terminated due to a zonal outage or health check recreation, as logs are sent to a centralized, durable logging service rather than being stored on local disk.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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