- A
BigQuery
BigQuery is used for both native tables and the unified query engine.
- B
Dataproc
Why wrong: Dataproc is for managed Spark/Hadoop clusters, not needed for this integration.
- C
BigLake
BigLake provides a unified table that spans Cloud Storage and BigQuery with centralized governance.
- D
Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage stores the Parquet files that are part of the BigLake table.
- E
Cloud SQL
Why wrong: Cloud SQL is a relational database, not part of BigLake's unified table.
Question 14 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 data engineer needs to create a unified table that combines data from Cloud Storage (Parquet files) and BigQuery native tables, with fine-grained access control and governance. Which three Google Cloud features should they use together? (Choose THREE.)
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
✓
BigQuery
BigQuery is correct because it serves as the unified query engine that can read data from both Cloud Storage (via external tables or BigLake) and native BigQuery tables, enabling a single SQL interface for analysis. It also integrates with fine-grained access control through row-level security and column-level access policies, and supports governance via Data Catalog and VPC Service Controls.
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.
- ✓
BigQuery
Why this is correct
BigQuery is used for both native tables and the unified query engine.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Dataproc
Why it's wrong here
Dataproc is for managed Spark/Hadoop clusters, not needed for this integration.
- ✓
BigLake
Why this is correct
BigLake provides a unified table that spans Cloud Storage and BigQuery with centralized governance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Cloud Storage
Why this is correct
Cloud Storage stores the Parquet files that are part of the BigLake table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud SQL
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL is a relational database, not part of BigLake's unified table.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Dataproc (a processing engine) with a storage or query service, or think Cloud SQL can handle Parquet files, when the correct combination requires BigQuery, BigLake, and Cloud Storage to achieve unified querying and governance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BigLake allows BigQuery to enforce fine-grained access control (e.g., row-level security) on external data sources like Cloud Storage by using a BigLake connection and a BigLake table definition that references the Parquet files. Under the hood, BigLake uses the BigQuery Storage API and the BigLake API to apply IAM policies and access controls at the file level, ensuring governance without moving data into BigQuery native storage. In a real-world scenario, a data engineer can create a BigLake table over Parquet files in Cloud Storage and join it with a native BigQuery table, then use BigQuery's row-level security to restrict access to sensitive columns like PII.
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.
- →
Storing the Data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Storing the Data practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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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: BigQuery — BigQuery is correct because it serves as the unified query engine that can read data from both Cloud Storage (via external tables or BigLake) and native BigQuery tables, enabling a single SQL interface for analysis. It also integrates with fine-grained access control through row-level security and column-level access policies, and supports governance via Data Catalog and VPC Service Controls.
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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