- A
Configure a same-region read replica.
Why wrong: Same-region replicas help reads but are not a DR option as they share the same regional risk.
- B
Set up pgpool-II for load balancing.
Why wrong: pgpool-II is not a managed GCP service; Cloud SQL read replicas already handle read offloading.
- C
Create a cross-region read replica in another region.
Cross-region replicas can serve reads and be promoted for DR.
- D
Use the cross-region replica to serve read traffic.
Cross-region replicas support read traffic, combining read scaling and DR.
- E
Enable HA configuration on the primary instance.
Why wrong: HA provides zonal failover but not cross-region DR or read scaling.
Question 908 of 980
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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 using Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL and wants to offload read traffic and improve performance. They also want a disaster recovery option in a different region. Which TWO configurations should they implement? (Choose 2.)
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 cross-region read replica in another region.
A cross-region read replica (Option C) allows you to offload read traffic from the primary instance, improving performance by distributing query load. Additionally, because the replica is in a different region, it provides a disaster recovery option: if the primary region fails, you can promote the cross-region replica to a new primary, ensuring business continuity. This directly meets both requirements of offloading reads and providing 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.
- ✗
Configure a same-region read replica.
Why it's wrong here
Same-region replicas help reads but are not a DR option as they share the same regional risk.
- ✗
Set up pgpool-II for load balancing.
Why it's wrong here
pgpool-II is not a managed GCP service; Cloud SQL read replicas already handle read offloading.
- ✓
Create a cross-region read replica in another region.
Why this is correct
Cross-region replicas can serve reads and be promoted for DR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use the cross-region replica to serve read traffic.
Why this is correct
Cross-region replicas support read traffic, combining read scaling and DR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable HA configuration on the primary instance.
Why it's wrong here
HA provides zonal failover but not cross-region DR or read scaling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between high availability (HA) within a region and disaster recovery (DR) across regions; the trap here is that candidates confuse HA (which provides automatic failover within the same region) with cross-region DR, leading them to select Option E instead of understanding that cross-region replicas are required for regional disaster recovery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL cross-region replicas use asynchronous replication with a replication lag typically under a few seconds, depending on network latency and write load. When promoting a cross-region replica for DR, the replica becomes a standalone primary instance, and you must reconfigure applications to point to the new endpoint; the original primary is not automatically updated. In practice, you should also consider using a read-only proxy or connection pooling to route read traffic to the replica, and monitor replication lag using the `cloudsql.googleapis.com/database/postgresql/replication/lag` metric to ensure data freshness for read workloads.
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 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 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?
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 cross-region read replica in another region. — A cross-region read replica (Option C) allows you to offload read traffic from the primary instance, improving performance by distributing query load. Additionally, because the replica is in a different region, it provides a disaster recovery option: if the primary region fails, you can promote the cross-region replica to a new primary, ensuring business continuity. This directly meets both requirements of offloading reads and providing cross-region DR.
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.
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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