You need to deploy an application on Google Cloud that must run on a Debian Linux environment. The application requires extensive configuration in order to operate correctly. You want to ensure that you can install Debian distribution updates with minimal manual intervention whenever they become available. What should you do?

The correct option leverages Google Cloud's OS patch management, which automates the process of applying updates to Compute Engine instances, including Debian distribution updates. This minimizes manual intervention while ensuring the application continues to run on a current and secure OS. The first incorrect option, creating an instance template and repeating the process, is inefficient and manual. It requires recreating instances and reinstalling the application for every OS update, which is not scalable. The third incorrect option is similar to the first in its manual nature. It involves manual installation and configuration for every update, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. The fourth incorrect option, using Docker and GKE, is a valid containerization strategy but doesn't directly address the requirement of installing Debian distribution updates on the underlying host OS. While the container itself might be updated, the host OS would still need patching, and the question specifically asks about Debian distribution updates, implying the underlying OS.