Google Professional Cloud Database Engineer Question 86
Select 2Google Cloud PlatformYou are tasked with designing a cost-efficient database solution for a startup that expects variable workloads and unpredictable traffic. The startup wants to minimize ongoing costs without sacrificing performance during peak periods. Which of the following database solutions and configurations would be the most cost-effective?
- A
Use Cloud Spanner with a fixed number of nodes to handle peak traffic.
- B
Use Cloud SQL with an autoscaling configuration and a smaller initial instance size.
- C
Use Bigtable with pre-provisioned capacity for the highest traffic level expected.
- D
Use Firestore in Native mode, which is serverless and scales automatically with usage.
- E
Use Cloud SQL with a high-memory instance to handle peak traffic and disable autoscaling.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: B, D
Explanation
For unpredictable and variable workloads, cost-efficiency requires the ability to dynamically scale resources to match demand. Cloud SQL with autoscaling and Firestore in Native mode both provide mechanisms to minimize costs during low-usage periods while still handling peak demand effectively. Other options involve over-provisioning, which leads to higher costs and inefficiencies.
- A. Incorrect.
Cloud Spanner is a powerful, globally distributed database but running it with a fixed number of nodes can lead to high costs, especially if the nodes are underutilized during non-peak periods. This option is not cost-efficient for unpredictable workloads.
- B. Correct.
Cloud SQL with an autoscaling configuration and a smaller initial instance size allows the database to scale with demand while keeping costs low during periods of reduced traffic. This makes it a cost-effective option for variable workloads.
- C. Incorrect.
Bigtable is an excellent choice for high-throughput, low-latency workloads, but pre-provisioned capacity for peak traffic levels can result in unnecessary costs during non-peak periods, making it less cost-efficient for unpredictable workloads.
- D. Correct.
Firestore in Native mode is a serverless, fully managed NoSQL database that automatically scales with usage. It is highly cost-effective for variable workloads since you only pay for what you use, without any need for pre-provisioning.
- E. Incorrect.
Using a high-memory instance in Cloud SQL without autoscaling can result in over-provisioning and increased costs during non-peak traffic periods, making it an inefficient choice for unpredictable workloads.