The correct configuration is a regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover. This choice is correct because it leverages synchronous replication between two zones within the same region, ensuring zero data loss (RPO=0) and automatic failover with a recovery time objective typically under 60 seconds, directly meeting the requirements for cloud SQL high availability regional instance automatic failover. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the trade-off between availability and data durability; a common trap is selecting a cross-region replica, which offers disaster recovery but introduces asynchronous replication and potential data loss. Remember that for zone-level failures with minimal data loss, you want synchronous replication within a single region, not asynchronous replication across regions. A useful memory tip: think "Regional Sync for Zero Loss" to recall that regional instances with autofailover provide synchronous replication and an RPO of zero.
PCD Practice Question: Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 SQL for MySQL and wants to achieve high availability with automatic failover across zones while minimizing data loss. Which configuration should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover
A regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover provides synchronous replication of data between two zones within the same region, ensuring zero data loss (RPO=0) and automatic failover with minimal downtime (RTO typically under 60 seconds). This meets the requirement for high availability with automatic failover across zones while minimizing data loss.
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.
✗
Enable read replicas in different zones
Why it's wrong here
Replicas do not automatically failover, require manual promotion.
✗
Use external read replicas with a failover script
Why it's wrong here
External replicas add complexity and latency, not automatic.
✗
Use Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition
Why it's wrong here
This edition is for SQL Server, not MySQL.
✓
Configure a regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover
Why this is correct
Provides zone-level failover with synchronous replication, minimal data loss.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable point-in-time recovery
Why it's wrong here
Provides backup recovery, not high availability or automatic failover.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between read replicas (asynchronous, for scaling) and regional instances (synchronous, for HA), leading candidates to mistakenly choose read replicas for high availability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A regional Cloud SQL instance uses synchronous replication between primary and standby zones via Google's internal network, with a 10 Gbps link and typically under 1 ms latency within the same region. The failover is handled by the Cloud SQL control plane, which monitors health checks and triggers a DNS update to redirect traffic to the standby zone, ensuring RPO of zero and RTO of about 60 seconds. In contrast, cross-region replication is asynchronous and would introduce data loss risk.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — This question tests Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover — A regional Cloud SQL instance with automatic failover provides synchronous replication of data between two zones within the same region, ensuring zero data loss (RPO=0) and automatic failover with minimal downtime (RTO typically under 60 seconds). This meets the requirement for high availability with automatic failover across zones while minimizing data loss.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.