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.
Your team is migrating a 5 TB MySQL database from on-premises to Cloud SQL. The database receives 2,000 writes per second and the network link has 500 Mbps bandwidth. You need to minimize migration time with zero data loss. What should you do?
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
✓
Configure Database Migration Service with a connectivity test and start continuous replication.
Database Migration Service (DMS) with continuous replication is the correct choice because it supports live migration with minimal downtime and zero data loss for large databases like 5 TB. DMS uses MySQL binlog-based replication to synchronize changes from the on-premises source to Cloud SQL while the source remains operational, then performs a cutover with only seconds of downtime. This approach handles the 2,000 writes/second load and 500 Mbps bandwidth efficiently by streaming incremental changes rather than transferring the entire 5 TB in one shot.
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.
✓
Configure Database Migration Service with a connectivity test and start continuous replication.
Why this is correct
DMS supports continuous migration with minimal downtime.
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 using mysqldump and import into Cloud SQL using the console.
Why it's wrong here
mysqldump is slow for 5 TB and doesn't capture ongoing writes.
✗
Use gcloud sql import with a compressed CSV export from on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
CSV export is not suitable for continuous replication.
✗
Set up a VPN, then use mysqldump with --master-data and pipe to mysql on Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
This approach is manual and error-prone; does not guarantee zero data loss.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that a one-time dump and import (mysqldump or CSV) is sufficient for large databases with continuous writes, ignoring the requirement for zero data loss and minimal downtime that only continuous replication can satisfy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Database Migration Service leverages MySQL's native binlog replication (using GTID or file-position-based replication) to maintain an exact copy of the source database in Cloud SQL with sub-second latency. The connectivity test validates network throughput and firewall rules to ensure the 500 Mbps link can sustain the replication stream without backlog. In real-world scenarios, DMS can handle terabytes of data by first performing a full snapshot backup (using physical backup tools like XtraBackup) and then streaming incremental binlog changes, allowing the source to remain fully operational until the final cutover.
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: Configure Database Migration Service with a connectivity test and start continuous replication. — Database Migration Service (DMS) with continuous replication is the correct choice because it supports live migration with minimal downtime and zero data loss for large databases like 5 TB. DMS uses MySQL binlog-based replication to synchronize changes from the on-premises source to Cloud SQL while the source remains operational, then performs a cutover with only seconds of downtime. This approach handles the 2,000 writes/second load and 500 Mbps bandwidth efficiently by streaming incremental changes rather than transferring the entire 5 TB in one shot.
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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