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In AI computing, two AI development platforms, Microsoft Azure and Amazon’s AWS, stand out for their performance and market dominance. But, another relatively new kid on the block, Google Cloud Platform (8.9 % market share), doesn’t usually get as much press as Azure and AWS, especially in everyday corporate IT.
However, if you switch from office-bound networking to cloud solutions optimized for remote employees, Google Cloud is as capable as any of its rivals. This GCP review will break down its features, performance, and other parameters to see whether GCP lives up to its hype.
GCP is a managed service offering customers access to AI computing resources stored in Google data centers worldwide for free or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
GCP is ranked 6th among the top AI development platforms. Most users give it a rating of 7.7 out of 10, and it's most popular among the large enterprise segment.
The users prefer Google Cloud AI due to the following benefits:
Once upon a time, you needed to be a computer whiz kid to use Google Cloud, but nowadays, the setup has shifted from the complicated command line to a new graphical user interface (GUI). Thanks to this GUI, you can use a browser to access screens and menus, and once you complete the server configuration, you can also use its GUI.
The cherry on the cake is that if you are a first-time GCP user, you are automatically credited with $300 worth of trial credits to test the platform and see if the platform and features work for you.
GCP AI has scaled up its footprint globally, now covering 35 regions, 105 zones, and 174 network edges, serving customers in over 200 countries. With Google announcing even more cloud regions at its Next ‘23 conference, it’s safe to say that there is a data center wherever you are.
In a previous statement, Google said that each data center is continuously being upgraded and retrofitted with the latest Google Axion Processors. GCP’s internal network now achieves speeds of 16 Gbps, providing a secure connection between regions and offering capabilities that are developed enough to compete with IBM Cloud, Azure, and AWS.
Pricing is best assessed on a case-by-case basis, and Google provides a straightforward approach to this with a pricing calculator and accessible price sheets. Just like Azure and AWS, all prices are in U.S. dollars - which makes comparisons easy. However, it exposes non-US users to fluctuations in exchange rates.
As for contracts, Google’s Compute Engine's SLA guarantees a minimum uptime of 99.99%. If you experience a monthly uptime percentage ranging from 99.95 to 99.99, you get a 10 % credit refund; 95 to 99% attracts 25%, and below 95% gets a 50% refund.
Although Google is still struggling with the bad reputation of killing off services, GCP Cloud AI remains a secure and reliable foundation for the company’s infrastructure, so it’s less likely to be placed on the chopping block any time soon. But if your company’s network and server infrastructure revolve around Microsoft products, go for Azure.
In AI computing, two AI development platforms, Microsoft Azure and Amazon’s AWS, stand out for their performance and market dominance. But, another relatively new kid on the block, Google Cloud Platform (8.9 % market share), doesn’t usually get as much press as Azure and AWS, especially in everyday corporate IT.
However, if you switch from office-bound networking to cloud solutions optimized for remote employees, Google Cloud is as capable as any of its rivals. This GCP review will break down its features, performance, and other parameters to see whether GCP lives up to its hype.
GCP is a managed service offering customers access to AI computing resources stored in Google data centers worldwide for free or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
GCP is ranked 6th among the top AI development platforms. Most users give it a rating of 7.7 out of 10, and it's most popular among the large enterprise segment.
The users prefer Google Cloud AI due to the following benefits:
Once upon a time, you needed to be a computer whiz kid to use Google Cloud, but nowadays, the setup has shifted from the complicated command line to a new graphical user interface (GUI). Thanks to this GUI, you can use a browser to access screens and menus, and once you complete the server configuration, you can also use its GUI.
The cherry on the cake is that if you are a first-time GCP user, you are automatically credited with $300 worth of trial credits to test the platform and see if the platform and features work for you.
GCP AI has scaled up its footprint globally, now covering 35 regions, 105 zones, and 174 network edges, serving customers in over 200 countries. With Google announcing even more cloud regions at its Next ‘23 conference, it’s safe to say that there is a data center wherever you are.
In a previous statement, Google said that each data center is continuously being upgraded and retrofitted with the latest Google Axion Processors. GCP’s internal network now achieves speeds of 16 Gbps, providing a secure connection between regions and offering capabilities that are developed enough to compete with IBM Cloud, Azure, and AWS.
Pricing is best assessed on a case-by-case basis, and Google provides a straightforward approach to this with a pricing calculator and accessible price sheets. Just like Azure and AWS, all prices are in U.S. dollars - which makes comparisons easy. However, it exposes non-US users to fluctuations in exchange rates.
As for contracts, Google’s Compute Engine's SLA guarantees a minimum uptime of 99.99%. If you experience a monthly uptime percentage ranging from 99.95 to 99.99, you get a 10 % credit refund; 95 to 99% attracts 25%, and below 95% gets a 50% refund.
Although Google is still struggling with the bad reputation of killing off services, GCP Cloud AI remains a secure and reliable foundation for the company’s infrastructure, so it’s less likely to be placed on the chopping block any time soon. But if your company’s network and server infrastructure revolve around Microsoft products, go for Azure.
