- A
Set up a Cloud SQL read replica for analytics
Why wrong: Read replica shares the same engine; complex analytics can still impact replica performance.
- B
Migrate to AlloyDB
Correct: AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible with a columnar engine for HTAP, supporting both OLTP and analytics without performance impact.
- C
Export data to BigQuery periodically
Why wrong: Not real-time, and adds latency; does not leverage in-database analytics.
- D
Use Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is for global scale, not specifically designed for HTAP; AlloyDB is more suitable.
Question 413 of 999
Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
PCD Practice Question: Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of design scalable and highly available cloud database 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 runs an OLTP workload on Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL. They need to run complex analytical queries on the same data without impacting transaction performance. Which service should they add?
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
✓
Migrate to AlloyDB
AlloyDB is a PostgreSQL-compatible database designed for high-performance transactional and analytical workloads. It separates compute from storage and uses a columnar engine for analytics, allowing complex queries to run without degrading OLTP performance. This makes it the correct choice for running analytical queries on the same data without impacting transaction latency.
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.
- ✗
Set up a Cloud SQL read replica for analytics
Why it's wrong here
Read replica shares the same engine; complex analytics can still impact replica performance.
- ✓
Migrate to AlloyDB
Why this is correct
Correct: AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible with a columnar engine for HTAP, supporting both OLTP and analytics without performance impact.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export data to BigQuery periodically
Why it's wrong here
Not real-time, and adds latency; does not leverage in-database analytics.
- ✗
Use Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is for global scale, not specifically designed for HTAP; AlloyDB is more suitable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a read replica is sufficient for analytics, but Cisco tests the understanding that read replicas still use the same storage engine and can suffer from performance degradation under heavy analytical queries, whereas AlloyDB provides a dedicated analytical engine without data duplication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AlloyDB uses a disaggregated storage architecture where the storage layer is separate from compute, and it includes a columnar engine that automatically offloads analytical queries to a parallel processing layer. This allows the same data to be queried analytically without row-level locks or buffer pool contention affecting the OLTP workload. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for applications like e-commerce platforms that need real-time analytics on order data without slowing down checkout transactions.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — This question tests Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Migrate to AlloyDB — AlloyDB is a PostgreSQL-compatible database designed for high-performance transactional and analytical workloads. It separates compute from storage and uses a columnar engine for analytics, allowing complex queries to run without degrading OLTP performance. This makes it the correct choice for running analytical queries on the same data without impacting transaction latency.
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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