- A
Firestore backups
Why wrong: Firestore is a database; no WORM feature for backups.
- B
Cloud Storage with Object Lock
Object Lock provides per-object WORM retention, meeting compliance.
- C
BigQuery table snapshots
Why wrong: BigQuery is for analytics, not backup storage; no WORM.
- D
Cloud Storage with retention policies
Why wrong: Retention policies are bucket-level, not per-object. Object Lock is needed for WORM.
Question 301 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 wants to store backups of on-premises databases in Google Cloud for long-term retention. They need WORM (Write Once, Read Many) compliance and object-level retention policies. What should they use?
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 Storage with Object Lock
Cloud Storage with Object Lock provides WORM (Write Once, Read Many) compliance by preventing objects from being deleted or overwritten for a fixed retention period. It supports both retention policies (applied at the bucket level) and legal holds (applied at the object level), meeting the requirement for object-level retention policies. This makes it the correct choice for long-term backup retention with regulatory compliance needs.
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.
- ✗
Firestore backups
Why it's wrong here
Firestore is a database; no WORM feature for backups.
- ✓
Cloud Storage with Object Lock
Why this is correct
Object Lock provides per-object WORM retention, meeting compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
BigQuery table snapshots
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery is for analytics, not backup storage; no WORM.
- ✗
Cloud Storage with retention policies
Why it's wrong here
Retention policies are bucket-level, not per-object. Object Lock is needed for WORM.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between bucket-level retention policies (Option D) and object-level retention policies (Object Lock), leading candidates to choose retention policies when the question explicitly requires object-level control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Storage Object Lock implements WORM by using two mechanisms: retention policies (which set a minimum retention duration for all objects in a bucket) and legal holds (which prevent deletion of specific objects indefinitely until removed). Under the hood, Object Lock relies on the bucket's `retentionPolicy` and individual object's `retention` metadata, enforced by the storage system to reject delete or overwrite requests until the retention period expires. In a real-world scenario, a financial institution might use Object Lock to store audit logs for 7 years, with legal holds applied to specific objects under investigation, ensuring compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4.
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 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
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.
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Storing the Data — study guide chapter
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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 Storage with Object Lock — Cloud Storage with Object Lock provides WORM (Write Once, Read Many) compliance by preventing objects from being deleted or overwritten for a fixed retention period. It supports both retention policies (applied at the bucket level) and legal holds (applied at the object level), meeting the requirement for object-level retention policies. This makes it the correct choice for long-term backup retention with regulatory compliance needs.
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.
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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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