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Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
What is GCP?
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services developed by Google. It offers infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and serverless computing environments. GCP runs on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products like Google Search, Gmail, and YouTube.
GCP enables businesses and developers to build, deploy, and scale applications, websites, and services on Google’s highly secure and reliable infrastructure.
Key Services and Tools
GCP offers a broad range of resources across compute, storage, networking, databases, security, and AI/ML. Some notable tools and services include:
☁️ Compute
- Compute Engine – Virtual machines for general workloads.
- App Engine – PaaS for building scalable web apps.
- Cloud Functions – Serverless execution of event-driven functions.
- GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) – Managed Kubernetes service.
📦 Storage & Databases
- Cloud Storage – Object storage for any amount of data.
- Cloud SQL – Managed relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server).
- Firestore and Bigtable – NoSQL database options.
- BigQuery – Fully-managed data warehouse for big data analytics.
🔐 Security
- Cloud IAM – Identity and Access Management.
- Security Command Center – Centralised security management and threat detection.
- VPC Service Controls – Data exfiltration protection for high-trust workloads.
📈 Monitoring & Logging
- Cloud Logging – Real-time log management.
- Cloud Monitoring – Observability into infrastructure, apps, and services.
- Chronicle – Google’s cloud-native SIEM solution (part of Google Cloud Security).
🤖 AI/ML & Data
- Vertex AI – Unified machine learning platform.
- AutoML – Tools to train custom models without extensive ML knowledge.
- Dataflow, Pub/Sub – Stream and batch data processing pipelines.
How GCP Compares to Azure and AWS
| Feature Area | GCP | AWS | Azure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Share | Third-largest | Market leader | Second-largest |
| Strengths | AI/ML, Data Analytics, Kubernetes | Broadest services & global reach | Seamless Microsoft integration |
| SIEM/Security | Chronicle, SCC | Security Hub, GuardDuty | Sentinel, Defender for Cloud |
| Best Use Cases | Big data, AI, Kubernetes | General-purpose, enterprise apps | Hybrid cloud, Windows shops |
| Ease of Use | Developer-friendly | Comprehensive but complex | Good UX for Windows admins |
GCP is often praised for its performance, pricing transparency, and innovations in AI/ML and containers, particularly due to its stewardship of Kubernetes.
Popularity and Market Standing
While AWS remains the leader and Azure holds strong in enterprise markets, GCP continues to grow steadily. Its focus on open source, data science, and security innovation makes it a popular choice for:
- Startups and digital-native companies
- AI/ML-heavy workloads
- Organisations seeking strong Kubernetes support
Recent growth has also been fuelled by Google’s investment in sustainability and green computing, with GCP being a carbon-neutral cloud provider since 2007.
In Summary
GCP is a powerful, secure, and developer-friendly cloud platform. It may not have the market dominance of AWS or the tight enterprise integration of Azure, but its strengths in data, security, and innovation make it an excellent choice—particularly for projects involving analytics, AI, or containerised infrastructure.