Google Cloud
Tags: cloud
Published: 2022-03-03 11:52:56


**What is meant by Cloud ?**

"The cloud" refers to servers that are accessed over the Internet, and the software and databases that run on those servers. Cloud servers are located in _data centres_ all over the world. By using cloud computing, users and companies do not have to manage physical servers themselves or run software applications on their own machines.
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The cloud enables users to access the same files and applications from almost any device, because the computing and storage takes place on servers in a data centre, instead of locally on the user device. This is why a user can log in to their Instagram account on a new phone after their old phone breaks and still find their old account in place, with all their photos, videos, and conversation history. It works the same way with cloud email providers like Gmail or Microsoft Office 365, and with cloud storage providers like Dropbox or Google Drive.

**What is Google Cloud ?**
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/v8c7l3ma2tjb800yhkdo.png)
The Google Cloud Console _provides a web-based, graphical user interface that you can use to manage your Google Cloud projects and resources_. When you use the Cloud Console, you either create a new project or choose an existing project, and then use the resources that you create in the context of that project.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services provided by Google. It is a public cloud computing platform consisting of a variety of services like compute, storage, networking, application development, Big Data, and more, which run on the same cloud infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search, Photos, Gmail and YouTube, etc.
The services of GCP can be accessed by software developers, cloud administrators and IT professionals over the Internet or through a dedicated network connection.

**Purpose of the Google Cloud:**
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Google Cloud _protects your data, applications, infrastructure, and customers from fraudulent activity, spam, and abuse with the same infrastructure and security services Google uses_. Google Cloud's networking, data storage, and compute services provide data encryption at rest, in transit, and in use.
Avoid vendor lock-in with Google Cloud’s commitment to open source, multi cloud, and hybrid cloud—allowing you to use your data and run your apps on any cloud or in any environment. Our open cloud solutions provide consistency between public and private clouds, enabling businesses to modernise and developers to build faster in any environment.
Google provides a considerable number of services with several unique features. That is the reason why Google Cloud Platform is continually expanding across the globe. Some of the significant services of GCP are:

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Compute Services
 

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Networking
 

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Storage Service

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Big Data

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Security and Identity Management
 

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Management Tools

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Cloud AI
 

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IoT (Internet of Things)

**Working of Google Cloud Platform:**

 When a file is uploaded on the Google cloud, the unique metadata is inserted into a file. It helps identify the different files and track the changes made across all the copies of any particular file. All the changes made by individuals get synchronised automatically to the main file, also called a master file. GCP further updates all the downloaded files using metadata to maintain the correct records.
Let's understand the working of GCP with a general example:
Suppose that MS Office is implemented on Cloud to enable several people to work together. The primary aim of using cloud technology is to work on the same project at the same time. We can create and save a file on the cloud once we install a plugin for the MS Office suite. This will allow several people to edit a document at the same time. The owner can assign access to specific people to allow them to download and start editing the document in MS Office.
Once users are assigned as an editor, they can use and edit the document's cloud copy as desired. The combined, edited copy is generated that is known as the master document. GCP helps to assign a unique URL to each specific copy of the existing document given to different users. However, any of the authorised users' changes will be visible on all the copies of documents shared over the cloud. In case multiple changes are made to the same document, then GCP allows the owner to select the appropriate changes to keep. 

**Key Features of Google Cloud Platform:**

The following are some key features of Google Cloud Platform:
 

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On-demand services: Automated environment with web-based tools. Therefore, no human intervention is required to access the resources. 

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Broad network access: The resources and the information can be accessed from anywhere.
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Resource pooling: On-demand availability of a shared pool of computing resources to the users.
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Rapid elasticity: The availability of more resources whenever required.
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Measured service: Easy-to-pay feature enables users to pay only for consumed services.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/d79f9hrmrd6oecoz6cqr.png)

**Advantages of Google Cloud Platform:**
There are several advantages of using Google Cloud Platform, such as:

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Google Cloud Offers Quick and Easy Collaboration: Multiple users can access the data and simultaneously contribute their information. This is possible because the data is stored on the cloud servers, not on the user's personal computers.

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Higher Productivity with Continuous Development: Google is always working on adding new features and functionalities to provide higher productivity to the customers. Therefore, Google delivers frequent updates to its products and services.

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Less Disruption with Adopting New Features: Instead of pushing huge disruptive updates of changes, Google provides small updates weekly. This helps users to understand and adopt new features easily.

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Least or Minimal Data is stored on Vulnerable Devices: Google does not store data on local devices unless a user explicitly tries to do it. This is because the data stored on local devices may get compromised compared to the cloud's data.

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Users can access Google Cloud from Anywhere: The best thing is that a user can easily access the information stored on Google cloud from anywhere because it is operated through web-based applications.

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Google provides Maximum Security with its Robust Structure: Google hires leading security professionals to protect user's data. Users get process-based and physical security features made by Google.

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Users have Full Control over their Data: Users gain full control over services and the data stored in Google Cloud. If a user does not want to use Google services any longer and wants to delete the cloud data, it can be easily performed.

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Google provides Higher Uptime and Reliability: Google uses several resources to provide higher and reliable up-time servers. If a data centre is not working for technical issues, the system will automatically communicate with the secondary centre without interruption visible to users.
 
**Conclusion:** 
 _Hence, "The cloud" refers to servers that are accessed over the Internet, and the software and databases that run on those servers. It is a public cloud computing platform consisting of a variety of services like compute, storage, networking, application development, Big Data, and more, which run on the same cloud infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search, Photos, Gmail and YouTube, etc. Our open cloud solutions provide consistency between public and private clouds, enabling businesses to modernise and developers to build faster in any environment. That is the reason why Google Cloud Platform is continually expanding across the globe. Resource pooling: On-demand availability of a shared pool of computing resources to the users. If a user does not want to use Google services any longer and wants to delete the cloud data, it can be easily performed._