Exam Professional Cloud Architect topic 1 question 5 discussion

A. This is GCP exam. They will always promote their services. Not a third party solution.

C should be the correct answer here

A : StackDriver is the recommended tool for logging in GCP. Futhermore, it can also be used for other CSP. https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/management-tools/extending-stackdriver-logging-across-clouds-and-providers-with-new-bindplane-integration

How can you tell them to download a logging agent when you don't even know if there is a library for the programming language the app is written in?

Although they should promote Google technologies in theory, I do not see how using Stackdriver will better help developers capture errors.

I will go for C because you first need to understand their requirements to choose a correct tool to fulfill all theirs needs.

A. This is GCP exam. They will always promote their services

You are writing an Architect exam, not a Business requirement (Product Manager) exam or a Software Consultant or Security Consultant to upgrade their tool. So as a GCP architect, only A is correct, rest all are not applicable.

Ops agent can be deployed only with GCE instances, and not with VMs deployed in AWS/ Azure or On-premise. Question talks about "new cloud-based product", without revealing the cloud it uses. So C makes sense. For GCP based workloads, Cloud logging will make more sense.

Option C is the best approach. Helping the team define their requirements and assess viable logging tools ensures they find a solution that truly meets their needs. This involves understanding their specific requirements, such as: The types of errors they need to capture The volume of log data they expect Integration with their existing systems Ease of use and setup Cost considerations Once these requirements are clear, you can evaluate different logging tools like ELK Stack, Splunk, or Datadog to see which one aligns best with their needs. This tailored approach is more likely to result in a successful implementation compared to simply upgrading their current tool or directing them to a specific product without understanding their needs.

A should be the answer, assuming the cloud based product is hosted in Google Cloud. The architect has to recommend a GCP Solution, not an external one which create Network & Security overheads

C is Best possible answer.

Answer is C. Here's why: Understanding Needs: Jumping straight to a solution (like Stackdriver) might not be the best fit. It's crucial to first understand the team's specific logging requirements for their cloud-based product. This includes: 1. What kinds of events need to be logged (errors, warnings, information, debug)? 2. How much logging data do they anticipate generating? 3. How long do they need to store logs? 4. What kind of analysis do they want to perform on their log data? 5. Does the logging tool need to integrate with other systems (monitoring, alerting, etc.)? 6. Are there any cost constraints?

The key to the answer is this: "You want to help them find a solution that meets their needs." You only start to find solution after you know the needs. Hence, this implied that you have already done the "Help them define their requirements and assess viable logging tools" (This rules out C) B is a lazy way do things and did not address the needs. (You are suppose to do the work, not ask them to do it themselves) D - "Help them upgrade their current tool to take advantage of any new features", well, this is a solution, but it is costly and it is not a business functions/features that worth the resources (you would go for COTS) So, left with A....

I've seen a lot of folks chosen C with a good argument of "requirements before solution". While I do agree with that argument. My choice would still be A. Reason being: (c.f: https://cloud.google.com/products/operations?hl=en) Note: Stackdriver was the former name, it's now Google Cloud's Operation Suite, and it works both "inside and outside" of Google Cloud. Therefore, if this new "cloud-based product" is on AWS or some other cloud provider, it would still work. Finally I saw a comment where someone said Google "will always promote their services". This is not true, especially for the Architect Exam.

C. Help them define their requirements and assess viable logging tools. This approach is strategic because it starts with understanding the specific needs of the development team, which can vary widely depending on the nature of the cloud-based product they are working on. Here’s why this is the most suitable option: Requirement Analysis: By defining the exact requirements, you ensure that the selected logging tool will have the necessary features to capture errors and analyze historical log data effectively. Tool Assessment: Once the requirements are clear, you can perform an informed assessment of available logging tools that meet these criteria, which could include Google StackDriver, other cloud-native tools, or third-party solutions. Long-term Solution: Choosing the right tool based on precise requirements is likely to offer a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix.

C. Help them define their requirements and assess viable logging tools Here's why the other options are less suitable: A. Downloading Stackdriver Logging Agent: While Stackdriver Logging Agent is a component of Cloud Logging, it's just the agent for sending logs. They need a broader solution that addresses their needs and evaluates alternatives. B. Logging Best Practices: Best practices are helpful, but they don't directly address finding the right tool for their specific needs. D. Upgrading Current Tool: Upgrading might be an option, but it doesn't consider if a better tool exists that could be a better fit. By helping them define their requirements (error capturing, historical data analysis) and assess various logging tools (including Cloud Logging with Stackdriver), you provide a more comprehensive solution.