The answer is the External HTTP(S) Load Balancer and the External SSL Proxy Load Balancer. These two global load balancer types can distribute traffic across multiple regions because they operate at Layer 7 and Layer 4, respectively, using Google’s global anycast IP addresses and software-defined network to route user requests to the closest healthy backend, regardless of regional boundaries. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this distinction tests your understanding of global versus regional load balancing; a common trap is assuming the Network Load Balancer or TCP Proxy can span regions, but those are regional or premium-tier only. Remember that both the HTTP(S) and SSL Proxy load balancers are global, while the Network and Internal load balancers are regional. A useful memory tip: think “global proxies” for cross-region traffic—both the HTTP and SSL proxies are designed to terminate traffic globally and forward it to any region.
PCNE Configuring network services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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.
Which TWO of the following load balancer types can distribute traffic to backends in multiple regions?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
The External HTTP(S) Load Balancer is a global load balancer that can distribute traffic to backends in multiple regions using anycast IP addresses and Google's global network. It supports cross-regional backend services, making it suitable for global applications.
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.
✗
Internal HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Internal HTTP(S) LB is regional; it only handles traffic within a single region.
✓
External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why this is correct
This global LB can route traffic to backends in various regions based on location.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Internal TCP/UDP LB is regional and only works within one region.
SSL Proxy is also global and can serve backends across multiple regions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that all external load balancers are global, but the External TCP/UDPLoad Balancer is regional unless explicitly configured as a global proxy load balancer, which is a separate type (SSL Proxy or TCP Proxy).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The External HTTP(S) Load Balancer uses global anycast IP addresses (e.g., 34.96.0.0/16) and Google's front-end service (GFE) to route traffic to the closest healthy backend, supporting cross-regional backend services via URL maps and backend buckets. In contrast, the External SSL Proxy Load Balancer is also global and can terminate SSL/TLS at the edge, forwarding decrypted traffic to backends in multiple regions, but it only supports TCP-based protocols (e.g., HTTPS, SSL) and not HTTP/2 or gRPC natively.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: External HTTP(S) Load Balancer — The External HTTP(S) Load Balancer is a global load balancer that can distribute traffic to backends in multiple regions using anycast IP addresses and Google's global network. It supports cross-regional backend services, making it suitable for global applications.
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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