- A
Take a snapshot of the Cloud SQL instance and restore it as a new instance.
Why wrong: Snapshotting does not provide zero-downtime cutover; replication would be lost.
- B
Delete the migration job and manually update DNS to point to Cloud SQL.
Why wrong: Deleting the job would stop replication; manual DNS change still requires cutover.
- C
Use the DMS console to promote the replica; the promotion applies pending changes and makes the Cloud SQL instance writable.
Promotion is the correct zero-downtime cutover step in DMS.
- D
Stop the source database, take a final dump, and load it into Cloud SQL.
Why wrong: This involves downtime and is not zero-downtime.
Question 744 of 980
PCD Migrate Data Solutions Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of migrate data solutions. 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 migrating a MySQL database to Cloud SQL. They plan to use Database Migration Service (DMS) with a continuous migration job to minimize downtime. How do they perform the cutover with zero downtime?
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 the DMS console to promote the replica; the promotion applies pending changes and makes the Cloud SQL instance writable.
DMS continuous migration uses a promotion step. When the source and target are in sync, the engineer promotes the Cloud SQL replica to a standalone instance. The application then switches to the new Cloud SQL instance. This is called 'promoting the replica' and can achieve near-zero downtime if coordinated correctly.
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.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the Cloud SQL instance and restore it as a new instance.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshotting does not provide zero-downtime cutover; replication would be lost.
- ✗
Delete the migration job and manually update DNS to point to Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the job would stop replication; manual DNS change still requires cutover.
- ✓
Use the DMS console to promote the replica; the promotion applies pending changes and makes the Cloud SQL instance writable.
Why this is correct
Promotion is the correct zero-downtime cutover step in DMS.
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.
- ✗
Stop the source database, take a final dump, and load it into Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
This involves downtime and is not zero-downtime.
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 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.
- →
Migrate Data Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Migrate Data Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Migrate Data Solutions — This question tests Migrate Data Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the DMS console to promote the replica; the promotion applies pending changes and makes the Cloud SQL instance writable. — DMS continuous migration uses a promotion step. When the source and target are in sync, the engineer promotes the Cloud SQL replica to a standalone instance. The application then switches to the new Cloud SQL instance. This is called 'promoting the replica' and can achieve near-zero downtime if coordinated correctly.
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.
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: 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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