The correct strategy is to use persistent disk snapshot replication to another region. This works because snapshots are stored in Cloud Storage, which offers multi-region and dual-region replication options, allowing you to copy snapshots to a geographically separate location. In contrast, a regional persistent disk only synchronously replicates data within a single region, so it cannot protect against a full regional outage. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between intra-region durability (regional PD) and cross-region disaster recovery (snapshots). A common trap is choosing regional persistent disks for DR, but remember that snapshots are the only native way to achieve cross-region recovery for Compute Engine disks. Memory tip: “Snapshots span regions; regional disks stay home.”
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. 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 team is designing a disaster recovery plan for a critical application on Google Cloud. The application runs on Compute Engine with a regional persistent disk. They want to minimize data loss in case of a regional outage. Which strategy should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use persistent disk snapshot replication to another region
Persistent disk snapshot replication to another region is the correct strategy because snapshots are stored in Cloud Storage and can be replicated across regions. This allows you to restore the disk from a snapshot in a different region if the primary region experiences an outage, minimizing data loss by ensuring the backup is geographically separate. Regional persistent disks are synchronous within a region but do not provide cross-region replication, so snapshots are the recommended approach for cross-region disaster recovery.
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 persistent disk snapshot replication to another region
Why this is correct
Snapshot replication to another region provides off-site backups that can be used to restore the application in a different region.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a snapshot schedule and store snapshots in the same region
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots in the same region would be lost if the region fails.
✗
Use synchronous replication across regions
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous replication across regions is not supported for Compute Engine persistent disks.
✗
Configure a managed instance group with autohealing
Why it's wrong here
Autohealing does not protect against regional failures; it only recreates instances in the same region.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse regional persistent disks' synchronous replication within a region (which is for high availability, not disaster recovery) with cross-region replication, leading them to incorrectly choose synchronous replication across regions, which is not supported for persistent disks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Persistent disk snapshots are incremental and stored in Cloud Storage buckets, which are globally accessible but can be configured for multi-region storage (e.g., 'us' or 'eu') to enhance durability. When replicating snapshots to another region, you use the 'gcloud compute snapshots create' command with the '--source-disk' and '--storage-location' flags to specify the target region. In a real-world scenario, if a regional outage occurs, you can create a new persistent disk in a different region from the replicated snapshot, ensuring RPO is limited to the last snapshot interval.
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.
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: Use persistent disk snapshot replication to another region — Persistent disk snapshot replication to another region is the correct strategy because snapshots are stored in Cloud Storage and can be replicated across regions. This allows you to restore the disk from a snapshot in a different region if the primary region experiences an outage, minimizing data loss by ensuring the backup is geographically separate. Regional persistent disks are synchronous within a region but do not provide cross-region replication, so snapshots are the recommended approach for cross-region disaster recovery.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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