- A
Use Cloud Scheduler to trigger a Dataflow job that exports the Bigtable table to Avro files in GCS, then import in another region
Why wrong: While possible, this is not the recommended managed approach; Bigtable managed backups are simpler and more reliable.
- B
Use Bigtable replication with a multi-cluster routing policy
Why wrong: Replication is for high availability, not for backup/restore to a different region for disaster recovery.
- C
Create a Bigtable managed backup of the cluster and restore it to a cluster in the desired region
Bigtable managed backups allow easy cross-cluster restore, including to different regions.
- D
Export the table using the HBase shell to a Cloud Storage bucket and import it in the new region
Why wrong: This is a manual process and not managed; Bigtable backups are preferred.
PCD Practice Question: Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of manage a solution that can span multiple database systems. 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 needs to back up a Cloud Bigtable instance daily and be able to restore it to a different region in case of a regional outage. What is the recommended approach?
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 Bigtable managed backup of the cluster and restore it to a cluster in the desired region
Option C is correct because Bigtable managed backups are the recommended approach for disaster recovery across regions. They allow you to create a consistent backup of a Bigtable cluster and restore it to a different cluster in another region, ensuring data durability and recoverability in case of a regional outage. This method is fully managed, does not require custom code, and preserves the table schema and data integrity.
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 Cloud Scheduler to trigger a Dataflow job that exports the Bigtable table to Avro files in GCS, then import in another region
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this is not the recommended managed approach; Bigtable managed backups are simpler and more reliable.
- ✗
Use Bigtable replication with a multi-cluster routing policy
Why it's wrong here
Replication is for high availability, not for backup/restore to a different region for disaster recovery.
- ✓
Create a Bigtable managed backup of the cluster and restore it to a cluster in the desired region
Why this is correct
Bigtable managed backups allow easy cross-cluster restore, including to different regions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export the table using the HBase shell to a Cloud Storage bucket and import it in the new region
Why it's wrong here
This is a manual process and not managed; Bigtable backups are preferred.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between replication (for high availability and low-latency reads) and managed backups (for point-in-time recovery and cross-region disaster recovery), leading candidates to choose replication when the requirement explicitly calls for a backup that can be restored independently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Bigtable managed backups use the `google.bigtable.admin.v2` API to create consistent snapshots of table data and metadata, stored in a separate internal storage layer. These backups are incremental and support point-in-time recovery, with a default retention of 30 days (configurable up to 90 days). When restoring to a different region, Bigtable automatically provisions a new cluster in the target region and populates it from the backup, handling replication and consistency without manual intervention.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems — This question tests Manage a Solution that Can Span Multiple Database Systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Bigtable managed backup of the cluster and restore it to a cluster in the desired region — Option C is correct because Bigtable managed backups are the recommended approach for disaster recovery across regions. They allow you to create a consistent backup of a Bigtable cluster and restore it to a different cluster in another region, ensuring data durability and recoverability in case of a regional outage. This method is fully managed, does not require custom code, and preserves the table schema and data integrity.
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
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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