Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud CDN, the correct choice because it is the only Google Cloud service designed specifically for global static content caching at edge locations when paired with a global external HTTPS load balancer and backend NEGs. Cloud CDN leverages Google’s vast edge cache network to intercept requests at the closest point of presence, serving cached static content directly from the edge and dramatically reducing latency for users worldwide while offloading the origin backends. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Cloud CDN integrates seamlessly with external HTTPS load balancers and NEGs—a common trap is confusing Cloud CDN with Cloud Storage’s direct serving or with a standalone CDN that doesn’t require the load balancer. Remember that Cloud CDN is not a separate product but a feature enabled on the load balancer itself. A helpful memory tip: think “CDN = Cache on the Load Balancer’s Edge,” reinforcing that the load balancer is the gateway for edge caching.
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of designing, planning, and prototyping a gcp network. 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 global application uses a global external HTTPS load balancer with backend NEGs in multiple regions. The content is static and must be cached at edge locations to reduce latency. Which GCP service should be enabled?
Cloud CDN
Provides edge caching for content.
Cloud Storage
Why wrong: Cloud Storage is for storing objects, not caching.
Cloud NAT
Why wrong: Outbound internet access, not caching.
Cloud Memorystore
Why wrong: In-memory cache for data, not HTTP content.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cloud CDN
Cloud CDN is the correct service because it leverages Google's global edge cache network to cache static content from an external HTTPS load balancer with backend NEGs. When enabled, Cloud CDN intercepts requests at edge locations and serves cached responses, reducing latency and offloading origin servers. This directly addresses the requirement to cache static content at edge locations for a global application.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud CDN
Why this is correct
Provides edge caching for content.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cloud Storage
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Storage is for storing objects, not caching.
Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Outbound internet access, not caching.
Cloud Memorystore
Why it's wrong here
In-memory cache for data, not HTTP content.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing Cloud CDN (edge caching) with Cloud Memorystore (backend caching) or Cloud Storage (origin storage), as candidates may think any caching service works at the edge, but only Cloud CDN integrates with the external HTTPS load balancer and Google's edge PoPs.
Detailed technical explanation
Cloud CDN uses Google's global edge network with over 150 points of presence (PoPs) to cache content based on cache keys derived from the request URI, headers, and query parameters. It supports HTTP/2 and QUIC for optimized delivery, and respects Cache-Control headers (e.g., max-age, s-maxage) to control TTL. In a multi-region NEG setup, Cloud CDN can serve cached content even if the closest backend is unavailable, improving resilience.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network — This question tests Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cloud CDN — Cloud CDN is the correct service because it leverages Google's global edge cache network to cache static content from an external HTTPS load balancer with backend NEGs. When enabled, Cloud CDN intercepts requests at edge locations and serves cached responses, reducing latency and offloading origin servers. This directly addresses the requirement to cache static content at edge locations for a global application.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCNE 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 PCNE exam.
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