- A
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is not PostgreSQL-compatible; it uses GoogleSQL or PostgreSQL dialect but is a different engine.
- B
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Fully managed, PostgreSQL-compatible, supports OLTP and some analytical queries.
- C
BigQuery
Why wrong: BigQuery is not PostgreSQL-compatible and is purely analytical.
- D
AlloyDB
PostgreSQL-compatible, with columnar engine for fast analytics, designed for hybrid workloads.
- E
Firestore
Why wrong: Firestore is a NoSQL document database, not PostgreSQL-compatible.
Question 905 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. 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 company is migrating an on-premises PostgreSQL database to Google Cloud. They need a fully managed database that is compatible with PostgreSQL and can handle both transactional and analytical workloads with high performance. Which two database services meet these requirements? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL is a fully managed database service that is compatible with PostgreSQL, making it suitable for transactional workloads. AlloyDB is also a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database that is optimized for high performance on both transactional and analytical workloads, offering up to 100x faster query performance for analytical queries compared to standard PostgreSQL.
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.
- ✗
Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is not PostgreSQL-compatible; it uses GoogleSQL or PostgreSQL dialect but is a different engine.
- ✓
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why this is correct
Fully managed, PostgreSQL-compatible, supports OLTP and some analytical queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is not PostgreSQL-compatible and is purely analytical.
- ✓
AlloyDB
Why this is correct
PostgreSQL-compatible, with columnar engine for fast analytics, designed for hybrid workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Firestore
Why it's wrong here
Firestore is a NoSQL document database, not PostgreSQL-compatible.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between general-purpose managed databases (Cloud SQL) and specialized high-performance databases (AlloyDB), and the trap here is that candidates may think BigQuery or Spanner are PostgreSQL-compatible because they support SQL, but they do not support the PostgreSQL dialect or transactional workloads natively.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AlloyDB uses a columnar engine and adaptive indexing to accelerate analytical queries while maintaining full PostgreSQL compatibility, enabling it to serve both OLTP and OLAP workloads without needing separate systems. Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL provides managed replication, automated backups, and read replicas, but it lacks the built-in analytical acceleration that AlloyDB offers, making AlloyDB the stronger choice for mixed workloads. In practice, a company might use Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL for standard transactional applications and AlloyDB for high-performance analytics on the same data, but both meet the requirement of being fully managed and PostgreSQL-compatible.
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.
- →
Storing the Data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Storing the Data — This question tests Storing the Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL — Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL is a fully managed database service that is compatible with PostgreSQL, making it suitable for transactional workloads. AlloyDB is also a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database that is optimized for high performance on both transactional and analytical workloads, offering up to 100x faster query performance for analytical queries compared to standard PostgreSQL.
What should I do if I get this PDE 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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PDE 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 PDE exam.
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