Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Specialization Course For Beginners

Learn the core GCP services essential for setting up a basic cloud environment. Understand how businesses use services like Compute Engine for virtual machines, Cloud Storage for object storage, and Cloud SQL for managed databases to support their operations.

• 1.1 Introduction to core GCP services (Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, etc.):
  • ‍Get familiar with essential GCP services and their functionalities. A software development team can use Compute Engine instances to run its web applications, Cloud Storage for storing product images, and Cloud SQL for managing customer data.

• 1.2 Setting up GCP accounts and managing security:
  • Learn to create GCP accounts and implement security best practices using Identity and Access Management (IAM). An enterprise can use IAM roles and permissions to enforce data access restrictions and comply with data sovereignty regulations.

• 1.3 Hands-on experience with basic GCP functionalities:
  • Gain practical skills in provisioning GCP resources and configuring services through guided exercises and labs. An online marketplace can use GCP's intuitive console and command-line interface to deploy and manage their applications on the cloud.

Design scalable and resilient cloud infrastructure on GCP to support modern applications and workloads. Learn about networking concepts such as Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), subnets, and load balancing to ensure secure and efficient communication between services.

• 1.1 Designing and implementing cloud infrastructure:
  • ‍Plan and deploy cloud environments on GCP using best practices for scalability and reliability. A global e-commerce platform can use GCP's global load balancers and multi-region deployments to deliver low-latency shopping experiences to customers worldwide.

• 1.2 Networking concepts in GCP (VPC, Subnets, Load Balancers):
  • Understand how networking works in GCP and configure virtual networks to isolate workloads and control traffic flow. A financial services company can use VPC peering to securely connect on-premises data centers with GCP resources for hybrid cloud deployments.

• 1.3 Optimizing network performance and security:
  • Implement network security policies and monitoring solutions to protect against cyber threats and ensure compliance with industry regulations. An SaaS provider can use GCP's firewall rules and network monitoring tools to detect and mitigate DDoS attacks targeting their cloud infrastructure

Efficiently manage and store data in the cloud with GCP's storage and database solutions. Learn how to leverage Cloud Storage for object storage, Cloud Spanner for globally distributed databases, and Bigtable for real-time analytics at scale.

• 1.1 Understanding GCP storage options (Cloud Storage, Cloud Spanner, Bigtable, etc.):
  • ‍Explore GCP's storage offerings and choose the right solution for your data storage and processing needs. A gaming company can use Cloud Spanner to build a globally consistent leaderboard system that scales seamlessly as the player base grows.
• 1.2 Introduction to GCP database services (Cloud SQL, Firestore, BigQuery):
  • Learn about GCP's managed database services and their use cases for transactional, document-oriented, and analytical workloads. A media streaming platform can use BigQuery for analyzing viewer engagement metrics and optimizing content recommendations in real time.

• 1.3 Best practices for data storage and management in GCP
  • Implement data lifecycle management policies and backup strategies to ensure data availability and durability. An e-commerce retailer can use Cloud Storage's object versioning and lifecycle policies to store and manage product images, videos, and user-generated content with high availability and reliability.

Deploy and scale applications on GCP without managing underlying infrastructure. Learn about GCP's compute services such as Compute Engine for virtual machines, App Engine for platform as a service (PaaS), and Cloud Functions for serverless computing.

• 1.1 Exploring GCP compute services (Compute Engine, App Engine, Cloud Functions):
  • ‍Understand GCP's compute offerings and choose the right compute option based on your application requirements. A software development team can use App Engine's managed environment to deploy and scale applications without worrying about infrastructure management.
• 1.2 Serverless computing with GCP Cloud Functions:
  • Develop event-driven, serverless applications that automatically scale with demand and only incur costs when executed. For example, a fintech startup can use Cloud Functions to process financial transactions in real time, ensuring high availability and low latency for their users.

• 1.3 Building and deploying serverless applications:
  • Learn best practices for designing, developing, and deploying serverless applications on GCP. An IoT company can use Cloud Functions to process sensor data from connected devices, triggering alerts and notifications based on predefined business rules.

Ensure applications can scale and remain available under heavy load or in the event of failures. Learn about GCP's auto-scaling and load balancing capabilities to dynamically adjust resources based on traffic patterns and distribute workloads across multiple instances.

• 1.1 Scaling applications on GCP using auto-scaling and load balancing:
  • ‍Configure auto-scaling policies and load balancers to handle traffic spikes and distribute requests evenly across backend instances. For instance, a ride-sharing platform can use auto-scaling to provision additional compute resources during peak hours and load balancers to distribute ride requests to nearby drivers efficiently.

• 1.2 Achieving high availability with GCP services (Cloud Load Balancing, Cloud CDN):
  • Design fault-tolerant architectures that minimize downtime and ensure seamless user experiences. A healthcare provider can use Cloud Load Balancing to distribute incoming patient inquiries to redundant backend servers, ensuring continuous availability of their online appointment scheduling system.

• 1.3 Disaster recovery and backup strategies in GCP
  • Implement data replication and backup solutions to protect against data loss and minimize recovery times in the event of disasters. A financial institution can use GCP's cross-region replication and automated backups to maintain data integrity and compliance with regulatory requirements.
    

Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Learn about GCP's identity and access management (IAM) policies, encryption mechanisms, and auditing tools to maintain a secure cloud environment.

• 1.1 Securing GCP resources with IAM, Security Groups, and VPC Service Controls:
  • ‍Define granular access controls and network policies to restrict resource access and prevent unauthorized actions. A government agency can use IAM roles and permissions to enforce data access restrictions and comply with data sovereignty regulations.

• 1.2 Compliance and governance in GCP:
  • Implement security and compliance controls to meet industry-specific requirements and regulatory standards. A financial services firm can use GCP's compliance certifications and audit logs to demonstrate adherence to industry regulations such as PCI DSS and GDPR.

• 1.3 Implementing encryption and data protection measures:
  • Encrypt data at rest and in transit to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches. An e-commerce retailer can use GCP's encryption features to safeguard customer payment information and ensure PCI compliance during online transactions.

Maintain performance and optimize costs through proactive monitoring and resource management. Learn about GCP's monitoring tools, performance optimization techniques, and cost management strategies to maximize the efficiency of cloud deployments.

• 1.1 Monitoring GCP resources with Stackdriver Monitoring and Logging:
  • ‍Monitor application performance and track resource usage metrics in real time to identify performance bottlenecks and troubleshoot issues proactively. An online marketplace can use Stackdriver Monitoring to monitor website latency and user traffic patterns, ensuring optimal user experiences during peak shopping seasons.

• 1.2 Performance optimization techniques:
  • Optimize application performance by fine-tuning resource configurations, optimizing code efficiency, and implementing caching strategies. A content delivery network (CDN) provider can use caching mechanisms and edge caching with Cloud CDN to reduce latency and improve content delivery speeds for end users.

• 1.3 Cost management and billing in GCP:
  • Analyze resource usage patterns, forecast future costs, and implement cost-saving measures to optimize cloud spending. A software development team can use GCP's cost management tools to identify idle resources, right-size instances, and leverage sustained use discounts to reduce overall infrastructure costs