- A
Create a primary cluster in the primary region and a primary cluster in the secondary region, then set up bidirectional replication
Why wrong: AlloyDB does not support bidirectional replication; secondary clusters are read-only.
- B
Use AlloyDB Omni in the secondary region to replicate data from the primary region
Why wrong: AlloyDB Omni is for on-premises deployments, not for cross-region replication within GCP.
- C
Create a primary cluster in the primary region and a read pool cluster in the secondary region with autoscaling enabled on the read pool
AlloyDB read pool clusters in secondary regions can serve reads and autoscale read capacity.
- D
Create a primary cluster with multiple read pools in the same region and distribute read traffic
Why wrong: This provides read scaling within the same region, not cross-region disaster recovery.
PCD Practice Question: Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in google cloud. 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 is deploying AlloyDB for PostgreSQL in multiple regions to support disaster recovery. They need the secondary region to be able to serve reads and automatically scale read capacity. Which configuration should they use?
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 primary cluster in the primary region and a read pool cluster in the secondary region with autoscaling enabled on the read pool
AlloyDB supports cross-region replication using read pool instances in secondary regions. These read pools can have autoscaling enabled to automatically adjust the number of nodes based on load. Primary instances are for writes only. AlloyDB Omni is for on-premises, not cross-region replication. A single cluster with multiple read pools in the same region does not provide cross-region DR.
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.
- ✗
Create a primary cluster in the primary region and a primary cluster in the secondary region, then set up bidirectional replication
Why it's wrong here
AlloyDB does not support bidirectional replication; secondary clusters are read-only.
- ✗
Use AlloyDB Omni in the secondary region to replicate data from the primary region
Why it's wrong here
AlloyDB Omni is for on-premises deployments, not for cross-region replication within GCP.
- ✓
Create a primary cluster in the primary region and a read pool cluster in the secondary region with autoscaling enabled on the read pool
Why this is correct
AlloyDB read pool clusters in secondary regions can serve reads and autoscale read capacity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a primary cluster with multiple read pools in the same region and distribute read traffic
Why it's wrong here
This provides read scaling within the same region, not cross-region disaster recovery.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD 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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Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — This question tests Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a primary cluster in the primary region and a read pool cluster in the secondary region with autoscaling enabled on the read pool — AlloyDB supports cross-region replication using read pool instances in secondary regions. These read pools can have autoscaling enabled to automatically adjust the number of nodes based on load. Primary instances are for writes only. AlloyDB Omni is for on-premises, not cross-region replication. A single cluster with multiple read pools in the same region does not provide cross-region DR.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD 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 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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