- A
HDD (hard disk drive)
Why wrong: HDD is slower and not recommended for performance-sensitive databases.
- B
Local SSD
Why wrong: Local SSD is not available for Cloud SQL; it is a Compute Engine feature.
- C
Persistent disk standard
Why wrong: Persistent disk is a broader category; SSD persistent disk is the correct type, but the option is vague.
- D
SSD (solid-state drive)
SSD provides the best performance for databases.
Question 944 of 980
PCD Practice Question: Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in google cloud. 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.
An engineer needs to create a Cloud SQL instance with SSD storage. Which storage type should they select for best performance?
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
✓
SSD (solid-state drive)
Option D is correct because SSD (solid-state drive) is the recommended storage type for Cloud SQL instances when best performance is required. SSD provides lower latency and higher IOPS compared to HDD, making it suitable for transactional workloads and real-time applications. Cloud SQL supports both SSD and HDD, but SSD is the default and optimal choice for production databases.
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.
- ✗
HDD (hard disk drive)
Why it's wrong here
HDD is slower and not recommended for performance-sensitive databases.
- ✗
Local SSD
Why it's wrong here
Local SSD is not available for Cloud SQL; it is a Compute Engine feature.
- ✗
Persistent disk standard
Why it's wrong here
Persistent disk is a broader category; SSD persistent disk is the correct type, but the option is vague.
- ✓
SSD (solid-state drive)
Why this is correct
SSD provides the best performance for databases.
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 Local SSD is available for Cloud SQL, but it is only an option for Compute Engine instances, not for managed database services like Cloud SQL.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL uses Google's persistent disk infrastructure, where SSD persistent disks deliver up to 30,000 random IOPS per instance (depending on size) and sub-millisecond latency, while HDD caps at 1,500 IOPS. The choice between SSD and HDD in Cloud SQL directly impacts query throughput and transaction commit times, especially under concurrent load. In a real-world scenario, an e-commerce platform handling high-volume order transactions would experience severe performance degradation with HDD due to write latency spikes.
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?
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — This question tests Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SSD (solid-state drive) — Option D is correct because SSD (solid-state drive) is the recommended storage type for Cloud SQL instances when best performance is required. SSD provides lower latency and higher IOPS compared to HDD, making it suitable for transactional workloads and real-time applications. Cloud SQL supports both SSD and HDD, but SSD is the default and optimal choice for production databases.
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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