- A
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Cloud SQL is OLTP but not optimized for analytical queries; lacks columnar engine.
- B
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is globally distributed relational, not PostgreSQL-compatible.
- C
AlloyDB with BigQuery as a federated source
AlloyDB handles OLTP, and BigQuery can query it via federated queries for analytics, but the question asks for services to consider; AlloyDB alone may suffice, but combining with BigQuery adds analytics power.
- D
BigQuery
Why wrong: BigQuery is OLAP only, not transactional.
- E
AlloyDB
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible with a columnar engine for analytics and OLTP.
Question 190 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 needs a fully managed, PostgreSQL-compatible database that supports both transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads with low latency. They want to minimize operational overhead. Which two Google Cloud services should they consider? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
✓
AlloyDB with BigQuery as a federated source
AlloyDB is a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database service designed for both transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads with low latency. By using BigQuery as a federated source, you can run analytical queries directly against AlloyDB data without moving it, combining operational and analytical capabilities while minimizing operational overhead.
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 SQL for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL is OLTP but not optimized for analytical queries; lacks columnar engine.
- ✗
Cloud Spanner
Why it's wrong here
Spanner is globally distributed relational, not PostgreSQL-compatible.
- ✓
AlloyDB with BigQuery as a federated source
Why this is correct
AlloyDB handles OLTP, and BigQuery can query it via federated queries for analytics, but the question asks for services to consider; AlloyDB alone may suffice, but combining with BigQuery adds analytics power.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
BigQuery
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is OLAP only, not transactional.
- ✓
AlloyDB
Why this is correct
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible with a columnar engine for analytics and OLTP.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a single database service must be either purely transactional or purely analytical, but the correct answer here leverages a combination of AlloyDB for OLTP and BigQuery federation for OLAP to meet both requirements with low operational overhead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AlloyDB uses a columnar engine and adaptive indexing to accelerate analytical queries on transactional data, achieving up to 100x faster query performance than standard PostgreSQL for complex joins and aggregations. The BigQuery federated query feature uses the BigQuery Storage API to read data directly from AlloyDB, enabling real-time analytics without ETL, while AlloyDB handles ACID-compliant transactions. This architecture is ideal for scenarios like real-time dashboards on e-commerce order data where both point-of-sale transactions and cross-sales analytics are needed simultaneously.
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: AlloyDB with BigQuery as a federated source — AlloyDB is a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database service designed for both transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads with low latency. By using BigQuery as a federated source, you can run analytical queries directly against AlloyDB data without moving it, combining operational and analytical capabilities while minimizing operational overhead.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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