PCDE Plan and manage database infrastructure Practice Question
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of plan and manage database infrastructure. 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 company is migrating their on-premises MySQL database to Cloud SQL. The database is 500 GB and they have a 1 Gbps network connection. They want to minimize downtime. Which THREE steps should they take?
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
✓
Perform a test migration to validate the process.
Option A is correct because performing a test migration validates the entire process, including schema compatibility, data integrity, and application connectivity, before the actual cutover. This reduces the risk of unexpected failures during the production migration, which is critical for minimizing downtime. A test migration also helps estimate the time required for the final cutover and allows for tuning of the Database Migration Service settings.
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.
✓
Perform a test migration to validate the process.
Why this is correct
Testing reduces risk.
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.
✗
Export the database to a SQL file and import after the cutover.
Why it's wrong here
This causes downtime during export and import.
✓
Test the application against the new Cloud SQL instance.
Why this is correct
Ensures application compatibility.
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.
✓
Use Database Migration Service with continuous replication.
Why this is correct
Minimizes downtime by replicating changes.
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.
✗
Schedule a maintenance window for the cutover.
Why it's wrong here
A maintenance window implies downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that a simple export/import or a maintenance window is sufficient for minimizing downtime, when in fact continuous replication and pre-validation steps are essential for achieving near-zero downtime migrations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Database Migration Service (DMS) uses continuous replication via MySQL binary log (binlog) to keep the Cloud SQL instance synchronized with the on-premises database in near real-time. This allows the cutover to be performed in seconds by simply stopping writes to the source and promoting the Cloud SQL instance, rather than requiring a full dump and reload. The 1 Gbps network connection is sufficient for the initial backfill of 500 GB, which can be completed in approximately 1-2 hours, after which continuous replication handles ongoing changes with minimal latency.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
Plan and manage database infrastructure — This question tests Plan and manage database infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Perform a test migration to validate the process. — Option A is correct because performing a test migration validates the entire process, including schema compatibility, data integrity, and application connectivity, before the actual cutover. This reduces the risk of unexpected failures during the production migration, which is critical for minimizing downtime. A test migration also helps estimate the time required for the final cutover and allows for tuning of the Database Migration Service settings.
What should I do if I get this PCDE 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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