- A
Set up a second Cloud SQL instance and configure application-level dual-writes to both instances.
Why wrong: Dual-writes at the application level are complex and error-prone; Cloud SQL replicas are simpler.
- B
Configure high availability (HA) within the same region using a regional persistent disk.
Why wrong: HA within a region does not protect against a regional outage.
- C
Create a cross-region replica with asynchronous replication and manually promote it during a disaster.
Cross-region replica with async replication is the standard DR configuration; manual promotion gives control.
- D
Create a cross-region replica with synchronous replication and enable automatic failover.
Why wrong: Synchronous replication across regions is not recommended due to latency; automatic failover is not supported for cross-region replicas.
PCDE Plan and manage database infrastructure Practice Question
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of plan and manage database infrastructure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 runs a critical application on Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL. The database engineer needs to ensure that if the primary instance fails, a standby instance in a different region can take over with minimal data loss. Which configuration should the Database Engineer implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Create a cross-region replica with asynchronous replication and manually promote it during a disaster.
Option C is correct because Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL supports cross-region replicas with asynchronous replication, which allows a standby instance in a different region to be promoted manually during a disaster. This minimizes data loss by replicating changes asynchronously, though some transactions may be lost if the primary fails before replication completes. Automatic failover is not supported for cross-region replicas in Cloud SQL, so manual promotion is required.
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.
- ✗
Set up a second Cloud SQL instance and configure application-level dual-writes to both instances.
Why it's wrong here
Dual-writes at the application level are complex and error-prone; Cloud SQL replicas are simpler.
- ✗
Configure high availability (HA) within the same region using a regional persistent disk.
Why it's wrong here
HA within a region does not protect against a regional outage.
- ✓
Create a cross-region replica with asynchronous replication and manually promote it during a disaster.
Why this is correct
Cross-region replica with async replication is the standard DR configuration; manual promotion gives control.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a cross-region replica with synchronous replication and enable automatic failover.
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous replication across regions is not recommended due to latency; automatic failover is not supported for cross-region replicas.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that synchronous replication and automatic failover are available for cross-region replicas, but Cloud SQL only supports asynchronous replication for cross-region replicas and requires manual promotion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cross-region replicas in Cloud SQL use asynchronous replication based on PostgreSQL's streaming replication protocol, where the replica continuously applies WAL (Write-Ahead Log) data from the primary. The replication lag depends on network latency and throughput, so in a real-world scenario, a sudden primary failure could lose the last few seconds of transactions. Manual promotion involves running the `gcloud sql instances promote-replica` command or using the Cloud Console, which converts the replica into a standalone primary instance.
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
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
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Plan and manage database infrastructure practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCDE questions
503 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud Database Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCDE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCDE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Plan and manage database infrastructure practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Plan and manage database infrastructure.
Define data structures and implement SQL for Business Intelligence practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Define data structures and implement SQL for Business Intelligence.
Design and implement database schemas practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Design and implement database schemas.
Monitor and optimize database performance practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to Monitor and optimize database performance.
PCDE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE fundamentals.
PCDE scenario practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE scenario.
PCDE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCDE questions linked to PCDE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCDE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
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: Create a cross-region replica with asynchronous replication and manually promote it during a disaster. — Option C is correct because Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL supports cross-region replicas with asynchronous replication, which allows a standby instance in a different region to be promoted manually during a disaster. This minimizes data loss by replicating changes asynchronously, though some transactions may be lost if the primary fails before replication completes. Automatic failover is not supported for cross-region replicas in Cloud SQL, so manual promotion is required.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 →
Keep practising
More PCDE practice questions
- A company stores sensor data in BigQuery. They have a table 'sensor_readings' with columns: sensor_id, reading_time, val…
- Which THREE are valid considerations when designing BigQuery tables for BI reporting?
- A team is migrating an on-premises PostgreSQL database to Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL. The existing schema uses a large num…
- A company is designing a Cloud Firestore schema for a social media application. Users can follow other users, and the ap…
- Match each Cloud SQL tier to its description.
- A financial services company uses Cloud Spanner for a global transaction processing system. They notice that certain rea…
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCDE 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 PCDE 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.