- A
Cloud Spanner
Why wrong: Spanner is globally distributed and supports strong consistency but is not for MySQL/PostgreSQL/SQL Server.
- B
AlloyDB
Why wrong: AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but does not support MySQL or SQL Server.
- C
Bigtable
Why wrong: Bigtable is a NoSQL wide-column database, not relational.
- D
Cloud SQL
Correct: Cloud SQL supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server with automatic backups and replication.
Question 338 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.
Which Google Cloud service is a fully managed relational database for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, offering automatic replication and backups?
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
Cloud SQL is the correct answer because it is Google Cloud's fully managed relational database service that supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It provides automatic replication across zones and automated backups, making it the ideal choice for traditional relational database workloads without the need for manual administration.
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 globally distributed and supports strong consistency but is not for MySQL/PostgreSQL/SQL Server.
- ✗
AlloyDB
Why it's wrong here
AlloyDB is PostgreSQL-compatible but does not support MySQL or SQL Server.
- ✗
Bigtable
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable is a NoSQL wide-column database, not relational.
- ✓
Cloud SQL
Why this is correct
Correct: Cloud SQL supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server with automatic backups and replication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Cloud SQL with Cloud Spanner because both are relational databases, but Cloud Spanner is designed for global scale and does not support MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server compatibility.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL uses a managed replication architecture that can be configured as either synchronous (for high availability) or asynchronous (for read replicas), with automatic failover handled by a regional persistent disk. Backups are stored in Cloud Storage and can be configured for point-in-time recovery using binary log (binlog) for MySQL or write-ahead log (WAL) for PostgreSQL. A real-world scenario is migrating an on-premises MySQL application to Cloud SQL to offload patching, backups, and replication management while retaining full SQL compatibility.
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
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Storing the Data practice 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 — Cloud SQL is the correct answer because it is Google Cloud's fully managed relational database service that supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It provides automatic replication across zones and automated backups, making it the ideal choice for traditional relational database workloads without the need for manual administration.
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
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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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