- A
Use HDD storage to reduce cost per GB.
Why wrong: HDD has higher latency and lower IOPS; not suitable for high performance.
- B
Use a single cluster with SSD storage.
SSD provides low latency; single cluster reduces cost.
- C
Use reverse timestamp to make recent data first.
Why wrong: Already in use; not an additional optimization.
- D
Pre-split the table to avoid write hotspotting during initial load.
Pre-splitting ensures even distribution.
- E
Enable compression on column families to reduce storage footprint.
Compression reduces costs.
Question 996 of 1,000
PCDOE Design and Plan Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design and plan database solutions. 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 data pipeline writes 10 TB of streaming data daily into Bigtable. The row key is based on the device ID and timestamp in reverse order. Recent data is queried most frequently. Which three design choices optimize performance and cost? (Choose THREE.)
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
✓
Use a single cluster with SSD storage.
Option B is correct because a single cluster with SSD storage provides low-latency access for frequently queried recent data, which is critical for streaming workloads. SSDs offer consistent single-digit millisecond latency, while HDDs would introduce higher latency unsuitable for real-time queries. This balances performance and cost for the described use case.
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.
- ✗
Use HDD storage to reduce cost per GB.
Why it's wrong here
HDD has higher latency and lower IOPS; not suitable for high performance.
- ✓
Use a single cluster with SSD storage.
Why this is correct
SSD provides low latency; single cluster reduces cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use reverse timestamp to make recent data first.
Why it's wrong here
Already in use; not an additional optimization.
- ✓
Pre-split the table to avoid write hotspotting during initial load.
Why this is correct
Pre-splitting ensures even distribution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable compression on column families to reduce storage footprint.
Why this is correct
Compression reduces costs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that HDD is acceptable for cost savings in high-throughput streaming workloads, ignoring the latency requirements for frequent recent data queries, and that a design choice already implemented (like reverse timestamp) can be selected again as an optimization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Bigtable, row keys are stored lexicographically sorted, so using a reverse timestamp (e.g., 9999999999999 - timestamp) ensures the most recent data appears at the beginning of the table, optimizing range scans for recent queries. Pre-splitting the table at initial load distributes write load across multiple tablet servers, preventing hotspotting on a single node and ensuring sustained throughput. Compression on column families (e.g., using Snappy or Gzip) reduces storage footprint by 50-80%, lowering costs without impacting read performance significantly.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design and Plan Database Solutions — This question tests Design and Plan Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a single cluster with SSD storage. — Option B is correct because a single cluster with SSD storage provides low-latency access for frequently queried recent data, which is critical for streaming workloads. SSDs offer consistent single-digit millisecond latency, while HDDs would introduce higher latency unsuitable for real-time queries. This balances performance and cost for the described use case.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE 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 PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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