All You have to know about Google cloud hosting

by Katarina Curik on October 26, 2020

Google cloud is an Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider that has one of the most robust cloud service systems. With the platform, you can store data or perform data analytics and other computer tasks in the cloud. The packages are also flexible- Implying that they can serve any business regardless of its size and needs.

What is google cloud hosting?

Google cloud hosting entails the infrastructure, tools, and services, which allows websites to build and host their applications on Google cloud servers. The Google cloud platform (GCP) initial growth started after the development of google app engine framework in 2008 whose purpose was to host web applications from the numerous google data centers.

As of now, Google’s cloud platform is one of the most entrusted cloud services in the market. Google is also putting more investments and improvements on cloud hosting to increase its market value and attractiveness to customers.

How does Google cloud hosting works?

A cloud computing system enables you to run programs that your computer cannot execute. The process only involves using a web browser or a simple user interface- Because the program running is on the client’s side, you won’t need to buy the fastest computers for your use but can do with any. You will also take advantage of using running many programs without making your system slower.

The way google cloud computing works can be a myth at first. When we think of these services, our minds wander to expensive tech, machines, and equipment in a classical data center- But Google keeps things simple. It uses mid-range servers- That way if any breaks, it would be easier to replace. Replacements in a data center can be very expensive and Google uses this approach to cut such costs. Thousands of server machines are present in every data center with each performing a certain task.

A structured approach that Google also uses is dedicating several servers to execute the same function- that way if one fails, the others can carry out the same function. A server can, therefore, replace another in the system with minimum discrepancies- the arrangement helps build redundancy in the system. Google also aspires to make the system functioning as simple as possible by using a foundation called the Google File System.

Google File System handles data requests and commands from the client side. The system primarily entails networks called clusters – with each cluster having a single master server. Google relies on master servers to perform data requests, which comes as actions from the client’s user interface. The client is the user’s computer and requests could be as simple as viewing a page or complex as modifying data. When you send a request, the master server receives it and sends the data to Google machines housing your data (chunkservers). These servers then relay information directly to you while bypassing the master servers.

Changing your cloud data is also a bit complex with the system, i.e. when you send your data it first goes to the master server, which chooses the appropriate chunkserver to send the data to- This becomes your primary replica chunkserver. The data then moves to the first replica chunkserver to which your computer can connect to and moves to all other replica chunkservers containing your data. After the transfer is complete, the primary chunkserver changes the actual data and notifies the client of the changes.

Pricing

The picture below shows an example of instance monthly pricing for the Iowa region in the USA.

Hourly instance rates for Iowa region, USA.

Advantages of Google cloud hosting

Disadvantages of Google cloud hosting

Is Google cloud-hosting best for my business?

Google cloud hosting offers tools to developers for developing even the most complex programs. With a variety of tools, developers will easily create the programs that they need. Google is also a data company with data management and analytics at its core of existence.  This attracts more customers, as cloud hosting matches well with data analytics.

Google cloud hosting is a solution for all companies that require comprehensive coverage for their data-related issues. The company also has the required personnel, expertise, and infrastructure to handle cloud services well. Its access to large organizations and larger market place also places it at a central position for marketing these applications.  Google cloud’s hosting key focus on data-intensive applications like CRM or ERP. Business vendors are now applying different strategies that will ensure they gain more from these clouds based hosting.

Google cloud hosting also comes with flexibility, which makes it ideal for any business size- whether small, medium, or large. The hosting plan enables each user to pick their requirements or software needs. They will also enjoy Google’s big data analytics which distinguishes it from its two major competitors: Microsoft’s Azure and AWS.

Alternatives to Google cloud hosting

Microsoft’s Azure

Microsoft’s cloud hosting was formerly known as Windows hosting. The services launched in 2010, Azure provides services that utilize the existing Microsoft’s technologies and frameworks. Azure entails the remote-hosted and managed-versions of Microsoft’s technologies that are deployable in a virtual machine. Azure’s pricing also depends on resource usage and not the assigned capacity. On the other hand, the billing structure depends on the service type, storage type and the physical location where they provide the cloud services. Over time, Azure has also developed numerous data centers in the world for the storage of its cloud data.

Pros

• Has a strong influence in the enterprise community
• Ability to scale up
• Enjoy flexible billing
• Has higher-availability time
• It is more cost-effective when compared to its competitors
• Easy integration with Microsoft software
• Better server speeds, power, and control with no server-sharing
• It is more reliable and secure
• Supports multiple databases

Cons

• There have been numerous cloud services outages which have made the Azure team come up with data recovery plans for its users.
• Has limited functions when compared with AWS.
• It is easier to set up windows; so if you intend to run another operating system, Azure may not be your ideal option.
• Microsoft Azure’s requires enterprise management from clients.

Amazon AWS

AWS is one of the oldest cloud hosting providers- with over 12years presence in the market. It offers a variety of features and benefits which make up their IaaS platform. AWS’s shift to on-demand billing has also given it an edge over most worthy competitors making it attractive for most IT business and enterprise leaders who feel the urge to cloud host their data at lower budgets. A google cloud vs AWS hosting is a tough competition, with each provider having its unique benefits. AWS is owned by Amazon and is supported by a number of Amazon offerings like Active Directory and CloudHSM’S key storage that enables a user to generate and use their own encryption keys while using the AWS cloud.

Pros

• Has a wide variety of cloud service packages for enterprise businesses
• Highly reliable and secure
• Higher compute capacity than the competitors
• Many available data centers
• Supports multiple programming languages

Cons

• One must purchase enterprise customer support
• Less strategic and reliable hybrid cloud strategy for the storage of sensitive data on the clouds
• A large number of packages could be confusing for most customers
• Has a less user-friendly web interface for users who are unfamiliar with AWS services- making them go through a steep learning curve when learning the provider’s use.