The correct configuration is to deploy a separate Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer in each target region and use DNS-based routing to distribute traffic across them. This is necessary because Google Cloud does not offer a native cross-region internal load balancer; the Internal Load Balancer (ILB) operates only within a single region and VPC network. To achieve a cross-region internal load balancer alternative, you must pair regional ILBs with Cloud DNS geo-routing or weighted record sets, which directs clients to the appropriate regional backend without exposing internal IPs externally. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of ILB scope limitations and DNS-based global traffic management—a common trap is assuming a single ILB can span regions, or confusing it with the external global HTTPS Load Balancer. Remember the memory tip: “ILBs are regional, DNS makes them global.”
PCNE Practice Question: Designing, planning, and prototyping a GCP network
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of designing, planning, and prototyping a gcp network. 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.
An organization is deploying a global application and wants to use an Internal Load Balancer (ILB) across multiple regions. What is the correct configuration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy ELB in each region and use DNS to route traffic
Option C is correct because Google Cloud does not support a native cross-region Internal Load Balancer (ILB). To distribute traffic across multiple regions, you must deploy a separate Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer in each region and use DNS-based routing (e.g., Cloud DNS with geo-routing or weighted record sets) to direct clients to the appropriate regional ILB. This approach provides regional high availability and global reach without exposing internal IPs externally.
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 a cross-region ILB by enabling global access
Why it's wrong here
Global access allows clients from any region to reach a regional ILB, but backend is still regional; not true cross-region LB.
✗
Use an Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer in one region and route traffic via Cloud VPN
Why it's wrong here
Adds complexity and latency; not a standard solution.
✓
Deploy ELB in each region and use DNS to route traffic
Why this is correct
Regional ILBs combined with DNS provide global internal load balancing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a global External Load Balancer with internal backend
Why it's wrong here
External LB requires public IPs, not fully internal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that 'global access' can make an Internal Load Balancer cross-region, but in Google Cloud, global access only allows clients from any region within the same VPC to reach a regional ILB, not to load balance across regions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Google Cloud Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancers are regional, using Andromeda-based virtual networking to distribute traffic within a VPC subnet. For multi-region deployment, you must create a separate ILB per region and use Cloud DNS with health-check-based routing policies (e.g., geo-location or weighted round-robin) to steer clients to the nearest healthy regional ILB. This design ensures traffic stays within Google's network and avoids egress costs, while DNS-based failover provides resilience against regional outages.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy ELB in each region and use DNS to route traffic — Option C is correct because Google Cloud does not support a native cross-region Internal Load Balancer (ILB). To distribute traffic across multiple regions, you must deploy a separate Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer in each region and use DNS-based routing (e.g., Cloud DNS with geo-routing or weighted record sets) to direct clients to the appropriate regional ILB. This approach provides regional high availability and global reach without exposing internal IPs externally.
What should I do if I get this PCNE 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.
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Question Discussion
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