Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud Run, the correct choice for deploying a containerized application on Google Cloud that requires no server management and automatically scales based on HTTP traffic. Cloud Run is a fully managed serverless compute platform that abstracts away all infrastructure, executing your container in response to HTTP requests and scaling down to zero when idle, which perfectly matches the need for serverless container deployment autoscaling. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this question tests your ability to differentiate between Google Cloud’s compute options, with a common trap being to confuse Cloud Run with App Engine Flexible Environment or GKE—both of which still involve underlying server or cluster management. A key memory tip is to associate “Run” with “serverless and stateless HTTP triggers,” while remembering that Compute Engine and GKE require explicit scaling and node management.
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of integrating google cloud services. 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.
You want to deploy a containerized application on Google Cloud that requires no server management and automatically scales based on HTTP traffic. Which service should you use?
Cloud Run.
Cloud Run is serverless and autoscales based on HTTP requests.
Compute Engine.
Why wrong: Compute Engine requires manual server management.
Google Kubernetes Engine.
Why wrong: GKE requires cluster management and is not serverless.
App Engine Flexible Environment.
Why wrong: Flexible Environment runs on VMs and requires management.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cloud Run.
Option C is correct because Cloud Run is serverless, autoscaling, and HTTP-driven. Option A is wrong because Compute Engine requires server management. Option B is wrong because GKE requires cluster management. Option D is wrong because App Engine Flexible Environment still uses VMs.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud Run.
Why this is correct
Cloud Run is serverless and autoscales based on HTTP requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Compute Engine.
Why it's wrong here
Compute Engine requires manual server management.
Google Kubernetes Engine.
Why it's wrong here
GKE requires cluster management and is not serverless.
App Engine Flexible Environment.
Why it's wrong here
Flexible Environment runs on VMs and requires management.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Integrating Google Cloud services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Integrating Google Cloud services practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PCD questions
500 questions across all exam domains
Google Professional Cloud Developer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PCD practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PCD questions linked to Designing highly scalable, available, and reliable cloud-native applications.
Practise PCD questions linked to Building and testing applications.
Practise PCD questions linked to Deploying applications.
Practise PCD questions linked to Integrating Google Cloud services.
Practise PCD questions linked to Managing application performance monitoring.
Practise PCD questions linked to PCD fundamentals.
Practise PCD questions linked to PCD scenario.
Practise PCD questions linked to PCD troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Integrating Google Cloud services — This question tests Integrating Google Cloud services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cloud Run. — Option C is correct because Cloud Run is serverless, autoscaling, and HTTP-driven. Option A is wrong because Compute Engine requires server management. Option B is wrong because GKE requires cluster management. Option D is wrong because App Engine Flexible Environment still uses VMs.
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Jun 24, 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.
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.