The answer is to add indexes to the database tables queried by the function. A Cloud Function timeout, especially when set to 60 seconds and querying Cloud SQL, is most often caused by slow query execution due to missing database indexes, not by insufficient function resources or incorrect timeout configuration. Without indexes, Cloud SQL performs full table scans, which can easily exceed the function’s timeout limit as data grows. On the Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how serverless compute interacts with managed databases—a common trap is to immediately increase the function timeout or allocate more memory, but the root cause is almost always a missing index on the queried columns. Remember the memory tip: “Timeout? Check the index first—don’t just turn up the clock.”
PCDOE Managing service incidents Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of managing service incidents. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A Cloud Function (2nd gen) is timing out. The function's timeout is set to 60 seconds. The function queries a Cloud SQL database. What is the most likely cause and the best action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add indexes to the database tables queried by the function
The most likely cause of the timeout is that the database queries are slow due to missing indexes, causing the function to wait longer than its 60-second timeout for results. Adding indexes to the queried columns reduces query execution time, resolving the timeout without changing the function's configuration. This aligns with best practices for optimizing Cloud SQL queries in serverless environments.
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.
✗
Reduce the function's allocated memory to decrease cold start time
Why it's wrong here
Cold start is not related to timeout; memory reduction may slow processing.
✓
Add indexes to the database tables queried by the function
Why this is correct
Slow queries often indicate missing indexes; adding them reduces query time.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the function timeout to 120 seconds
Why it's wrong here
The function is not exceeding 60s; increasing timeout won't fix the slow query.
✗
Increase the Cloud SQL max connections setting
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of connection exhaustion; the issue is query latency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that increasing timeouts or resources is the default fix for timeouts, when the real issue is almost always unoptimized queries or missing indexes in database-backed serverless functions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL queries without proper indexes perform full table scans, which become exponentially slower as table size grows. In a Cloud Function (2nd gen) with a 60-second timeout, a missing index on a WHERE or JOIN column can easily cause the query to exceed this limit. Adding a composite index on frequently filtered columns reduces the query from O(n) to O(log n) complexity, often cutting execution time from tens of seconds to milliseconds.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
Managing service incidents — This question tests Managing service incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add indexes to the database tables queried by the function — The most likely cause of the timeout is that the database queries are slow due to missing indexes, causing the function to wait longer than its 60-second timeout for results. Adding indexes to the queried columns reduces query execution time, resolving the timeout without changing the function's configuration. This aligns with best practices for optimizing Cloud SQL queries in serverless environments.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "most likely". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 →
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.
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.
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.