- A
Backups can be created on demand or via a scheduled policy
Spanner supports both on-demand and scheduled backups.
- B
Incremental backups are supported to reduce storage costs
Why wrong: Spanner only supports full database backups; no incremental.
- C
Backups are automatically replicated across regions
Why wrong: Spanner backups are stored in the same region as the instance; cross-region copy is manual.
- D
Backups are stored in Avro format in Cloud Storage
Spanner exports data as Avro files to GCS.
- E
Backups can be restored to a different Spanner instance
Backups can be restored to any instance in the same project.
Question 159 of 980
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 uses Cloud Spanner for a global database and needs to export a full backup to GCS for long-term archival and compliance. Which THREE statements are true about Cloud Spanner backups? (Choose 3 options.)
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
✓
Backups can be created on demand or via a scheduled policy
Option A is correct because Cloud Spanner supports both on-demand backups (created manually via the console, gcloud CLI, or API) and scheduled backup policies that automate backup creation at defined intervals. This flexibility allows administrators to meet compliance requirements without manual intervention.
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.
- ✓
Backups can be created on demand or via a scheduled policy
Why this is correct
Spanner supports both on-demand and scheduled backups.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Incremental backups are supported to reduce storage costs
Why it's wrong here
Spanner only supports full database backups; no incremental.
- ✗
Backups are automatically replicated across regions
Why it's wrong here
Spanner backups are stored in the same region as the instance; cross-region copy is manual.
- ✓
Backups are stored in Avro format in Cloud Storage
Why this is correct
Spanner exports data as Avro files to GCS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Backups can be restored to a different Spanner instance
Why this is correct
Backups can be restored to any instance in the same project.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that Cloud Spanner supports incremental backups (like many relational databases) or that backups are automatically geo-replicated, when in fact backups are full and stored only in the instance's location unless explicitly copied.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner backups use the database's change stream and snapshot isolation to create a consistent, full copy of the data without blocking writes. Backups are stored in Avro format in Cloud Storage, which is a compact, row-oriented format that supports efficient export and import. A real-world scenario is a financial institution that must retain seven years of daily full backups for audit compliance, which can be achieved using scheduled backup policies and lifecycle rules to manage storage costs.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: Backups can be created on demand or via a scheduled policy — Option A is correct because Cloud Spanner supports both on-demand backups (created manually via the console, gcloud CLI, or API) and scheduled backup policies that automate backup creation at defined intervals. This flexibility allows administrators to meet compliance requirements without manual intervention.
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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