The answer is to enable Cloud Monitoring integration in the Cloud Endpoints configuration. This is correct because Cloud Endpoints relies on an Extensible Service Proxy (ESP) or Envoy proxy to intercept API calls, and while logging is enabled by default, detailed performance metrics like request count, latency, and error rates are only sent to Cloud Monitoring when you explicitly configure the integration. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between Cloud Endpoints logging and monitoring—a common trap is assuming that enabling logs automatically populates Cloud Monitoring dashboards. The key insight is that the proxy must be told to emit metrics, not just logs. For memory, think of it as "logs are passive, metrics are active": you must flip the switch for cloud endpoints monitoring integration to see performance data.
PCD Managing application performance monitoring Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of managing application performance monitoring. 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 team is developing a mobile backend API on Google Cloud. They are using Cloud Endpoints to manage API authentication and quotas. They want to monitor API performance including request count, latency, and error rates. They have enabled Cloud Endpoints logging but are not seeing detailed performance metrics in Cloud Monitoring. What should they do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable Cloud Monitoring integration in Cloud Endpoints configuration.
Cloud Endpoints uses an Extensible Service Proxy (ESP) or Envoy proxy to intercept API calls and report metrics to Cloud Monitoring. By default, Endpoints logs requests but does not send detailed performance metrics (e.g., latency, request count, error rates) to Cloud Monitoring unless you explicitly enable the Cloud Monitoring integration in the Endpoints service configuration. Option B is correct because enabling this integration configures the proxy to emit those metrics directly to Cloud Monitoring.
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.
✗
Deploy a custom metrics exporter in the mobile app.
Why it's wrong here
Custom exporter in the mobile app is not needed; the backend API can send metrics.
✓
Enable Cloud Monitoring integration in Cloud Endpoints configuration.
Why this is correct
This sends detailed API metrics to Cloud Monitoring without custom coding.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Install the Ops Agent on the API backend instances.
Why it's wrong here
Ops Agent collects system metrics but not API-level metrics like request count and latency.
✗
Use Cloud Logging to parse logs and create metric counters.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it's inefficient and not the intended way; Cloud Endpoints supports direct monitoring integration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Cloud Endpoints logging (which records individual request logs) with Cloud Monitoring metrics (which aggregate performance data), and they incorrectly assume that enabling logs automatically populates Cloud Monitoring dashboards.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Endpoints uses the Extensible Service Proxy (ESPv2) based on Envoy, which can emit metrics to Cloud Monitoring via the OpenCensus or OpenTelemetry protocol. When you enable the monitoring integration in the Endpoints configuration (using the `monitoring` section in `openapi.yaml` or `gRPC service config`), the proxy sends metrics like `serviceruntime.googleapis.com/api/request_count`, `api/request_latencies`, and `api/error_count` to Cloud Monitoring. This integration is essential for real-time dashboards and alerting, and it avoids the overhead of log-based metric extraction.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
Managing application performance monitoring — This question tests Managing application performance monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Cloud Monitoring integration in Cloud Endpoints configuration. — Cloud Endpoints uses an Extensible Service Proxy (ESP) or Envoy proxy to intercept API calls and report metrics to Cloud Monitoring. By default, Endpoints logs requests but does not send detailed performance metrics (e.g., latency, request count, error rates) to Cloud Monitoring unless you explicitly enable the Cloud Monitoring integration in the Endpoints service configuration. Option B is correct because enabling this integration configures the proxy to emit those metrics directly to Cloud Monitoring.
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.
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Question Discussion
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