- A
Consul backend
Why wrong: Consul is an alternative backend but not native to GCP; GCS is preferred for GCP.
- B
Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend
GCS backend supports remote state, locking via object versioning (enable versioning on bucket), and is the standard choice for Terraform on GCP.
- C
Local backend
Why wrong: Local backend stores state on the local filesystem, not shared or with locking.
- D
Terraform Cloud backend
Why wrong: Terraform Cloud is a SaaS platform, not a storage backend within GCP; it can be used but is not a GCP-native backend.
Question 908 of 1,000
PCDE Practice Question: Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of bootstrapping a google cloud organisation for devops. 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 DevOps team uses Terraform to manage infrastructure. They want to store state files in a shared backend that supports locking and versioning. Which backend meets these requirements?
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
✓
Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend
The Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend is correct because it natively supports state file locking via object write consistency and versioning through object versioning, which are essential for preventing concurrent state corruption and enabling state rollback. Terraform's GCS backend uses a write-lock mechanism that relies on GCS's strong consistency for object creation, ensuring only one operation can modify the state at a time.
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.
- ✗
Consul backend
Why it's wrong here
Consul is an alternative backend but not native to GCP; GCS is preferred for GCP.
- ✓
Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend
Why this is correct
GCS backend supports remote state, locking via object versioning (enable versioning on bucket), and is the standard choice for Terraform on GCP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Local backend
Why it's wrong here
Local backend stores state on the local filesystem, not shared or with locking.
- ✗
Terraform Cloud backend
Why it's wrong here
Terraform Cloud is a SaaS platform, not a storage backend within GCP; it can be used but is not a GCP-native backend.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Terraform Cloud (a managed service) with a backend type, or assume Consul's session-based locking implies versioning, when in fact Consul does not natively version state files like GCS does with object versioning.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the GCS backend leverages Google Cloud Storage's object generation numbers and preconditions to implement optimistic locking: when Terraform writes state, it includes the expected generation number, and GCS rejects the write if the object has been updated by another operation. Versioning in GCS retains all object versions, allowing Terraform to roll back to a previous state by specifying a version ID, which is critical for disaster recovery scenarios where a corrupted state file must be reverted without manual intervention.
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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Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — This question tests Bootstrapping a Google Cloud Organisation for DevOps — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend — The Google Cloud Storage (GCS) backend is correct because it natively supports state file locking via object write consistency and versioning through object versioning, which are essential for preventing concurrent state corruption and enabling state rollback. Terraform's GCS backend uses a write-lock mechanism that relies on GCS's strong consistency for object creation, ensuring only one operation can modify the state at a time.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
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