Cloud CDN is the correct choice because it leverages Google’s global edge cache to accelerate delivery of both static content like images and CSS, as well as dynamic API responses, by caching cacheable responses at edge locations and reducing round-trip latency for users worldwide. This works because Cloud CDN integrates directly with HTTP(S) Load Balancing, allowing it to inspect response headers and cache dynamic content when appropriate, while also serving static assets from the nearest point of presence. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this question tests your understanding of how to unify content delivery for a global e-commerce application without needing separate services for static and dynamic caching. A common trap is choosing Cloud Storage or Cloud Run alone, but those lack edge caching for dynamic responses. Remember the memory tip: “One CDN for both static and dynamic—Cloud CDN handles the global traffic.”
PCD Practice Question: Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native 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 is designing a global e-commerce application that needs low-latency access for users worldwide. The application serves static content (images, CSS) and dynamic API responses. Which Google Cloud service should they use to cache both types of content at the edge?
Why wrong: Cloud Armor is a web application firewall and DDoS protection service. It does not cache content.
B
Cloud CDN
Cloud CDN uses Google's global edge network to cache both static and dynamic content, reducing latency for users worldwide.
C
Cloud Storage
Why wrong: Cloud Storage is a storage service, not a caching service at the edge. It can serve static content but does not cache dynamic content globally.
D
HTTP(S) Load Balancing
Why wrong: Load balancing distributes traffic across instances but does not cache content. It can be used with Cloud CDN, but alone it does not cache.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cloud CDN
Cloud CDN is the correct choice because it uses Google's global edge cache to deliver both static content (e.g., images, CSS) and dynamic API responses (via cacheable dynamic content or cache-fill from origin). It integrates with HTTP(S) Load Balancing to cache responses at edge locations, reducing latency for users worldwide.
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.
✗
Cloud Armor
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor is a web application firewall and DDoS protection service. It does not cache content.
✓
Cloud CDN
Why this is correct
Cloud CDN uses Google's global edge network to cache both static and dynamic content, reducing latency for users worldwide.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Cloud Storage
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Storage is a storage service, not a caching service at the edge. It can serve static content but does not cache dynamic content globally.
✗
HTTP(S) Load Balancing
Why it's wrong here
Load balancing distributes traffic across instances but does not cache content. It can be used with Cloud CDN, but alone it does not cache.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that HTTP(S) Load Balancing alone provides caching, but it only distributes traffic; Cloud CDN is the explicit caching layer required for edge content delivery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud CDN leverages Google's global edge network with over 1,300 points of presence (PoPs) to cache both static and dynamic content using HTTP cache-control headers (e.g., Cache-Control: public, max-age=3600). For dynamic API responses, it supports cacheable responses via origin directives or signed URLs, and it uses a cache key based on the request URI and headers, with options for cache invalidation via API or console. In real-world scenarios, a global e-commerce site can reduce latency from 200ms to under 20ms for users in distant regions by caching product images and API responses at the edge.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — This question tests Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud CDN — Cloud CDN is the correct choice because it uses Google's global edge cache to deliver both static content (e.g., images, CSS) and dynamic API responses (via cacheable dynamic content or cache-fill from origin). It integrates with HTTP(S) Load Balancing to cache responses at edge locations, reducing latency for users worldwide.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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