- A
Dataflow
Dataflow processes the streaming data for aggregation.
- B
Pub/Sub
Pub/Sub is the managed messaging service for ingesting events.
- C
Kafka Connect (with Pub/Sub connector)
Kafka Connect provides a no-code way to stream Kafka data to Pub/Sub, reducing custom coding.
- D
Cloud NAT
Why wrong: Cloud NAT is used for outbound internet access from private VMs, not relevant here.
- E
Cloud Functions
Why wrong: Cloud Functions could be used but is not necessary; Dataflow can handle the ingestion natively.
Question 873 of 1,000
PDE Designing Data Processing Systems Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. 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 data team is building a near-real-time dashboard that displays aggregated metrics from Kafka topics. They want to use Pub/Sub as a managed messaging service and Dataflow for stream processing. They need to ingest data from Kafka into Pub/Sub with minimal custom code. Which THREE Google Cloud services 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
✓
Dataflow
Pub/Sub is the target messaging system. Dataflow can read from Kafka directly using the Kafka I/O connector, with no need for intermediate services. Cloud NAT is not needed. Cloud Functions could be used but is not required and adds complexity. Kafka Connect with the Pub/Sub connector is a standard way to stream data from Kafka to Pub/Sub. So the three services are Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect (or a combination of Dataflow reading from Kafka and writing to Pub/Sub). However, the options given are: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, Cloud NAT, Cloud Functions, and Kafka Connect. The correct three are: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect. But note that Dataflow can read from Kafka and write to Pub/Sub, eliminating the need for Kafka Connect. However, the question specifically says 'with minimal custom code', and Kafka Connect provides a no-code connector. Alternatively, Dataflow with the Kafka I/O connector requires some code but is still minimal. The best answer set is: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Dataflow
Why this is correct
Dataflow processes the streaming data for aggregation.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
Pub/Sub
Why this is correct
Pub/Sub is the managed messaging service for ingesting events.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
Kafka Connect (with Pub/Sub connector)
Why this is correct
Kafka Connect provides a no-code way to stream Kafka data to Pub/Sub, reducing custom coding.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Cloud NAT
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is used for outbound internet access from private VMs, not relevant here.
- ✗
Cloud Functions
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Functions could be used but is not necessary; Dataflow can handle the ingestion natively.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PDE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Designing Data Processing Systems — 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?
Designing Data Processing Systems — This question tests Designing Data Processing Systems — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Dataflow — Pub/Sub is the target messaging system. Dataflow can read from Kafka directly using the Kafka I/O connector, with no need for intermediate services. Cloud NAT is not needed. Cloud Functions could be used but is not required and adds complexity. Kafka Connect with the Pub/Sub connector is a standard way to stream data from Kafka to Pub/Sub. So the three services are Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect (or a combination of Dataflow reading from Kafka and writing to Pub/Sub). However, the options given are: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, Cloud NAT, Cloud Functions, and Kafka Connect. The correct three are: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect. But note that Dataflow can read from Kafka and write to Pub/Sub, eliminating the need for Kafka Connect. However, the question specifically says 'with minimal custom code', and Kafka Connect provides a no-code connector. Alternatively, Dataflow with the Kafka I/O connector requires some code but is still minimal. The best answer set is: Pub/Sub, Dataflow, and Kafka Connect.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PDE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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