- A
Use a global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer with backend services pointing to NEGs in each region.
Global LB with NEGs can route to the nearest backend based on client geography.
- B
Create separate internal load balancers in each region and use Cloud DNS geo-routing.
Why wrong: Internal load balancers require clients within the VPC; external clients need global load balancer.
- C
Configure an external TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer in each region and use Cloud DNS geo-routing.
Why wrong: TCP/UDP LB is regional, not global; clients would need to know which region to go to.
- D
Deploy a single regional cluster and use Cloud CDN to cache content globally.
Why wrong: Single cluster doesn't provide multi-region failover; CDN caches static content, not dynamic traffic.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use a global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer with backend services pointing to Network Endpoint Groups (NEGs) in each regional GKE cluster. This works because the load balancer uses Anycast IP addresses and a proximity-based routing algorithm to direct each user’s request to the nearest healthy backend, minimizing latency without relying on slower DNS-based redirection. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how global load balancing integrates with GKE’s NEGs for multi-region traffic routing—a common trap is choosing a regional load balancer or DNS-based geo-routing, which adds latency or fails to adapt to backend health in real time. Remember the key: global load balancer plus NEGs equals automatic, latency-optimized traffic steering. A helpful mnemonic is “GLB + NEG = Closest Leg,” reinforcing that the global load balancer sends traffic to the nearest regional cluster leg.
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. 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 multi-region deployment on GKE and needs to route traffic to the closest regional cluster based on user location. They want to minimize latency. Which approach should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Use a global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer with backend services pointing to NEGs in each region.
A global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer uses Anycast IP addresses and is backed by backend services that reference Network Endpoint Groups (NEGs) in each regional GKE cluster. This allows the load balancer to direct traffic to the closest healthy backend based on the user's geographic location and the load balancer's proximity algorithm, minimizing latency without requiring DNS-based routing.
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.
- ✓
Use a global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer with backend services pointing to NEGs in each region.
Why this is correct
Global LB with NEGs can route to the nearest backend based on client geography.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create separate internal load balancers in each region and use Cloud DNS geo-routing.
Why it's wrong here
Internal load balancers require clients within the VPC; external clients need global load balancer.
- ✗
Configure an external TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer in each region and use Cloud DNS geo-routing.
- ✗
Deploy a single regional cluster and use Cloud CDN to cache content globally.
Why it's wrong here
Single cluster doesn't provide multi-region failover; CDN caches static content, not dynamic traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that DNS-based geo-routing (e.g., Cloud DNS geo-routing) is the optimal solution for global traffic steering, but the trap here is that DNS-based methods suffer from client-side caching and lack the sub-second failover and true anycast proximity of a global load balancer with NEGs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer leverages Google Front Ends (GFEs) distributed globally, which terminate TLS and route requests using a consistent hash of the client IP and session affinity settings. The proximity-based routing is determined by the load balancer's control plane, which selects the backend with the lowest RTT from the GFE that received the request, not by DNS resolution. This approach also supports automatic failover: if one regional backend becomes unhealthy, traffic is rerouted to the next closest region within seconds.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer with backend services pointing to NEGs in each region. — A global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer uses Anycast IP addresses and is backed by backend services that reference Network Endpoint Groups (NEGs) in each regional GKE cluster. This allows the load balancer to direct traffic to the closest healthy backend based on the user's geographic location and the load balancer's proximity algorithm, minimizing latency without requiring DNS-based routing.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 25, 2026
This PCD 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 PCD exam.
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