- A
Increase max_replica_count to 20.
Why wrong: This allows more replicas but does not speed up the scaling decision.
- B
Disable autoscaling and manually manage replicas.
Why wrong: Manual scaling is not responsive to traffic spikes.
- C
Increase min_replica_count to 10.
Why wrong: This would keep more replicas running cost, but doesn't improve scaling speed.
- D
Reduce the target CPU utilization percentage from default to a lower value.
Lower target utilization triggers scaling sooner, improving responsiveness.
Question 673 of 1,000
PMLE Serving and Scaling Models Practice Question
This PMLE practice question tests your understanding of serving and scaling models. 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.
You have a Vertex AI endpoint with min_replica_count=2 and max_replica_count=10. You notice that during a traffic spike, the endpoint does not scale up quickly enough, causing increased latency. What should you do to improve autoscaling responsiveness?
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
✓
Reduce the target CPU utilization percentage from default to a lower value.
Option D is correct because reducing the target CPU utilization percentage (e.g., from the default 60% to a lower value like 40%) causes the autoscaler to trigger scale-up actions sooner, as the threshold for adding replicas is reached at a lower CPU load. This improves responsiveness during traffic spikes by initiating scaling earlier, reducing latency. The endpoint's min_replica_count=2 and max_replica_count=10 remain unchanged, so the scaling range is preserved.
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.
- ✗
Increase max_replica_count to 20.
Why it's wrong here
This allows more replicas but does not speed up the scaling decision.
- ✗
Disable autoscaling and manually manage replicas.
Why it's wrong here
Manual scaling is not responsive to traffic spikes.
- ✗
Increase min_replica_count to 10.
Why it's wrong here
This would keep more replicas running cost, but doesn't improve scaling speed.
- ✓
Reduce the target CPU utilization percentage from default to a lower value.
Why this is correct
Lower target utilization triggers scaling sooner, improving responsiveness.
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 increasing max_replica_count or min_replica_count improves scaling speed, when in fact the key lever is the target utilization threshold that controls autoscaler sensitivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vertex AI autoscaling uses a target metric (default CPU utilization of 60%) to decide when to add or remove replicas. The autoscaler calculates the desired number of replicas as ceil(current_load / (target_utilization * single_replica_capacity)). Lowering the target utilization increases the desired replica count for the same load, causing the autoscaler to add replicas more aggressively. This is similar to how Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) Horizontal Pod Autoscaler uses target CPU utilization; a lower threshold reduces the time to scale up because the autoscaler polls metrics every 30 seconds and applies a cooldown period, so earlier threshold crossing is critical.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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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Serving and Scaling Models — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMLE question test?
Serving and Scaling Models — This question tests Serving and Scaling Models — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reduce the target CPU utilization percentage from default to a lower value. — Option D is correct because reducing the target CPU utilization percentage (e.g., from the default 60% to a lower value like 40%) causes the autoscaler to trigger scale-up actions sooner, as the threshold for adding replicas is reached at a lower CPU load. This improves responsiveness during traffic spikes by initiating scaling earlier, reducing latency. The endpoint's min_replica_count=2 and max_replica_count=10 remain unchanged, so the scaling range is preserved.
What should I do if I get this PMLE 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 PMLE 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 PMLE exam.
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