Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services provided by Google. It offers a wide range of services, including computing power, storage, databases, machine learning, networking, and more.
History of Google Cloud Platform
GCP first came online in 2008 with the launch of App Engine, a developer tool that allowed customers to run their web applications on Google infrastructure.
GCP Infrastructure
Regions and zones
A zone is an area where Google Cloud Platform cloud resources like virtual machines or storage are deployed. Zones are grouped into regions, which are independent geographic areas.
You can choose what regions you want your GCP resources to be placed in. Locations within regions usually have trip network latencies of under five milliseconds.
Data centers and availability
Google’s global infrastructure currently has 24 locations around the world where Google Cloud Platform resources are offered.
Google Cloud Platform Services
GCP offers a category of cloud computing services, including computing, data storage, data analytics, and machine learning. Some services are limited to specific regions, while others are global.
Compute services
Compute Engine: scale with high-performance virtual machines running in Google’s innovative data centers and worldwide fiber network as part of their cloud computing services.
App Engine: build and scale applications on a fully managed platform without having to worry about managing the underlying infrastructure. As a part of Platform as a Service (PaaS), Google App Engine provides developers with a comprehensive platform to build, deploy, and manage applications, including development frameworks, databases, and runtime environments.
Storage and database services
Cloud Storage: integrate a secure and durable object storage solution into your apps with global edge-caching and single unified API. As part of Google Cloud Platform’s cloud computing services, Google Cloud Storage offers a free tier and flexible storage deployment options within zones and regions.
Cloud SQL: enables the application to store media files, backups, or other file-like objects.
Networking services
Cloud Load Balancing: enables us to load-balance traffic across resources, create DNS records, and much more.
Cloud CDN
Big data and analytics services
BigQuery: develop without limits on this fully managed cloud data warehouse for analytics with built-in machine learning.
Cloud Dataflow: enables us to process and query big data in the cloud.
Developer tools and APIs
- Cloud Source Repositories: includes tools that enable software and application development.
- Cloud Build: includes tools that enable software and application development.
Identity and security services
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): deals with security and authentication.
- Cloud Security Scanner: deals with security and authentication.
Internet of Things (IoT) services
- Cloud IoT Core: enables us to create IoT environments with the following tools.
- Cloud IoT Edge: enables us to create IoT environments with the following tools.
Cloud AI and machine learning services
Cloud AI Platform: comprises services related to machine learning models, including training and getting predictions using TensorFlow’s Cloud ML Engine. This also encompasses Cloud AI Platform, Cloud AutoML, and Cloud Vision.
AutoML: leverage a suite of machine learning products that enables developers with limited expertise to train high-quality models specific to their needs.
Management tools and monitoring
- Cloud Monitoring: includes services related to management and monitoring.
- Cloud Logging: includes services related to management and monitoring.
Benefits of Using Google Cloud
GCP is popular for many reasons, including its scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. GCP offers a generous free tier with limited usage of various cloud computing services.
Additionally, there are education grants available for signing up and applying for credits towards any Google Cloud products for teaching or academic research purposes.
The free tier typically includes a certain amount of usage for services like Compute Engine, App Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and more.
Security and compliance
GCP Cloud Security Command Center provides a centralized dashboard for security and compliance. GCP is a secure and reliable platform that provides high availability and scalability.
GCP Resources
Google Cloud Platform provides infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and serverless computing environments. Google Cloud includes various offerings such as enterprise mapping services among other things.
Must Read : Android vs. iOS: Which Is the Best OS for You in 2024?
How to use GCP
Follow the steps mentioned below to get started with the GCP.
- Step 1: Create an account in google cloud platform.
- Step 2: After creating free account, it will validate till 90n days.
- Step 3: Know you need to start the billing.
- Step 4: You need to be careful while choosing the services.
Setting up a project and billing
GCP offers a generous free tier with limited usage of various services.
Google Cloud Use Cases
Cloud-native applications : GCP is well suited for the build and deploy and manage the applications.
Data analytics and machine learning : GCP offers a suite of machine learning products that enables developers with limited expertise to train high-quality models specific to their needs.
Hybrid and multi-cloud environments
GCP services are compatible with open source products. GCP also offers a wide range of services, including computing, storage, and networking. For Security GCP have Cloud Security Command Center, which provides a centralized dashboard for security and compliance.
Google Cloud Pricing and Free Tier
GCP offers a generous free tier with limited usage of various services. The free tier typically includes a certain amount of usage for services like Compute Engine, App Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and more with limited usage of various services.
Google Cloud Certification Paths
Google Cloud Platform offers wide range of Professional certifications and training to validate you skills. If you’re interested in honing your Google Cloud skillset and leading your organization’s goals for the future, you might consider which GCP certification path or career path is right for you.
Google Cloud vs Competitors
Google Cloud Platform is one of the top public cloud vendors in the world, with customers including Nintendo, eBay, and Twitter. When we talk about Market share and growth AWS is in the clear lead, with Microsoft gaining ground, and Google Platform is growing.