- A
Use Cloud SQL export to Cloud Storage and store the export for 400 days using object lifecycle management.
Export to Cloud Storage creates a durable backup that can be retained indefinitely via object lifecycle rules, meeting the 400-day requirement.
- B
Set the backup retention to 400 days in the Cloud SQL instance settings.
Why wrong: Cloud SQL maximum retention is 365 days. You cannot set it to 400 days.
- C
Create a cross-region read replica and use it as a backup source.
Why wrong: A read replica is not a backup; it is a live copy used for reads or failover. It does not serve as a retention archive.
- D
Use the gcloud command: gcloud sql backups create --instance=myinstance --async and rely on default retention.
Why wrong: Default retention is less than 400 days. This does not meet the requirement.
PCDOE Practice Question: Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design for reliability, scalability, and disaster recovery. 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.
An engineer needs to create a backup of a Cloud SQL for MySQL instance that is retained for 400 days to meet compliance requirements. What is the correct approach?
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 Cloud SQL export to Cloud Storage and store the export for 400 days using object lifecycle management.
Cloud SQL for MySQL allows automated backups with a maximum retention of 365 days. To retain a backup for longer, the engineer must create an on-demand export to Cloud Storage. The export can be stored indefinitely. Automated backup retention cannot be extended beyond 365 days. Using Cloud SQL's backup retention setting to 400 days is not supported. Using a read replica is not a backup. Using PITR does not create a separate backup file.
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 Cloud SQL export to Cloud Storage and store the export for 400 days using object lifecycle management.
Why this is correct
Export to Cloud Storage creates a durable backup that can be retained indefinitely via object lifecycle rules, meeting the 400-day requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the backup retention to 400 days in the Cloud SQL instance settings.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL maximum retention is 365 days. You cannot set it to 400 days.
- ✗
Create a cross-region read replica and use it as a backup source.
Why it's wrong here
A read replica is not a backup; it is a live copy used for reads or failover. It does not serve as a retention archive.
- ✗
Use the gcloud command: gcloud sql backups create --instance=myinstance --async and rely on default retention.
Why it's wrong here
Default retention is less than 400 days. This does not meet the requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Identify which PCDOE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — This question tests Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Cloud SQL export to Cloud Storage and store the export for 400 days using object lifecycle management. — Cloud SQL for MySQL allows automated backups with a maximum retention of 365 days. To retain a backup for longer, the engineer must create an on-demand export to Cloud Storage. The export can be stored indefinitely. Automated backup retention cannot be extended beyond 365 days. Using Cloud SQL's backup retention setting to 400 days is not supported. Using a read replica is not a backup. Using PITR does not create a separate backup file.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Identify which PCDOE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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