Professional Data EngineerBuilding and operationalizing data processing systemsMedium
A healthcare provider is migrating its legacy patient record system to Google Cloud. The system requires a globally distributed database that offers strong consistency, high availability, and horizontal scalability to handle potential growth. The data model is relational, and strict ACID properties are essential for transactional integrity. Which Google Cloud database service is the most appropriate choice for these requirements?
- AFirestore
- BCloud Bigtable
- CCloud Spanner
- DCloud SQL
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Cloud Spanner
Cloud Spanner is a unique, globally distributed, strongly consistent relational database service designed for mission-critical applications. It provides horizontal scalability, high availability, and ACID transactions, making it ideal for the healthcare provider's requirements.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Firestore is a NoSQL document database, good for mobile/web applications, but not a relational database and does not offer the same global strong consistency guarantees as Spanner for complex relational transactions.
- B. Cloud Bigtable is a NoSQL wide-column store, suitable for analytical and operational workloads but is not relational and does not provide strong transactional consistency across multiple rows/tables like Spanner.
- D. Cloud SQL is a regional, managed relational database suitable for many applications but lacks the global distribution and horizontal scalability of Spanner.
Cloud Spanner
A globally distributed, strongly consistent, relational database service designed for mission-critical applications requiring high availability, horizontal scalability, and ACID transactions.
- Unique combination of relational structure and global scalability.
- Offers strong consistency across regions.
- Ideal for financial services, gaming, and healthcare applications.
Memory trick: Spanner spans the globe with strong ACID relations.