Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Fundamentals

Information Technology and Digital Systems October 25, 2025
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Introduction

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a leading provider of cloud services, leveraging Google's decades of experience in global infrastructure, data analytics, and machine learning. This introductory course establishes a strong foundational understanding of GCP's core products and services. Participants will explore the global infrastructure, compute options, storage solutions, and key networking services. The curriculum is essential for anyone new to GCP, providing a comprehensive overview of the platform's unique value proposition and its fundamental resources for deploying modern, data-intensive applications.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the concept of regions, zones, and the global network architecture of GCP.
  • Describe the core compute services, including Compute Engine (VMs), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Cloud Functions (Serverless).
  • Differentiate between the various storage options: Cloud Storage (object), Persistent Disk (block), and Cloud Filestore (file).
  • Understand the Identity and Access Management (IAM) structure in GCP (Resource Hierarchy, roles, members).
  • Describe key networking concepts: VPC, subnets, and the global load balancing capabilities.
  • Identify the data and machine learning services available on GCP (e.g., BigQuery, Cloud AI Platform).
  • Understand the billing model and cost management tools on GCP.
  • Prepare for the Google Cloud Certified Cloud Digital Leader or Associate Cloud Engineer certification.

Target Audience

  • IT Professionals seeking an entry point into the Google Cloud ecosystem.
  • Business Analysts and Stakeholders evaluating GCP for their organization.
  • System Administrators and Developers preparing for advanced GCP training.
  • Individuals with a foundational knowledge of cloud concepts.
  • Anyone pursuing the Google Cloud Certified Cloud Digital Leader certification.

Methodology

  • Hands-on labs navigating the GCP console and deploying simple services (e.g., a Compute Engine VM).
  • Discussions on when to choose a particular compute service (VM vs. GKE vs. Cloud Functions).
  • Case studies on organizations leveraging BigQuery for large-scale data analytics.
  • Individual exercises on creating IAM custom roles and applying least privilege principles.

Personal Impact

  • Develop a solid foundational knowledge of the Google Cloud Platform.
  • Acquire the necessary concepts to pursue GCP foundational certifications.
  • Improve understanding of next-generation technologies like serverless and specialized data services.
  • Gain familiarity with the Google Cloud console, CLI, and core management tools.
  • Elevate career marketability with expertise in one of the three major cloud providers.

Organizational Impact

  • Informed strategic decision-making regarding the use of Google Cloud services.
  • Faster adoption of advanced technologies like AI/ML and big data processing.
  • Optimized resource provisioning and cost management through understanding CUDs.
  • Enhanced security and compliance through proper IAM implementation.
  • Leveraging Google's global network for highly available and performant applications.

Course Outline

Unit 1: GCP Fundamentals and Global Infrastructure

Introduction to GCP
  • The unique strengths of GCP (global network, AI/ML, data analytics).
  • The core philosophy and commitment to open-source and serverless.
  • Understanding projects, folders, and organizations in the Resource Hierarchy.
  • Comparing the value of GCP to other cloud providers.
GCP Global Infrastructure
  • Defining regions and zones and designing for multi-regional deployment.
  • The role of Google's high-speed fiber network.
  • Cloud Shell and Cloud SDK for resource interaction.
  • Understanding the concept of edge network and CDN.

Unit 2: Compute and Storage Services

Compute Options
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) with Compute Engine (VMs).
  • Container orchestration with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS) with App Engine.
  • Serverless computing with Cloud Functions and Cloud Run.
Storage Services
  • Object storage with Cloud Storage and its various classes (Standard, Nearline, Archive).
  • Block storage with Persistent Disk and its types.
  • Managed databases: Cloud SQL (relational) and Cloud Spanner (globally distributed).
  • NoSQL databases like Cloud Firestore and Bigtable.

Unit 3: Networking and Identity Management

GCP Networking
  • Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network and subnets (global nature).
  • Firewall rules and network segmentation.
  • Global load balancing and its benefits.
  • Connecting to GCP: Cloud VPN and Dedicated Interconnect.
Identity and Security
  • Identity and Access Management (IAM): members, roles, and policies.
  • Service accounts and their use in application authentication.
  • Resource Manager and organization policies.
  • Introduction to Cloud Security Command Center.

Unit 4: Data, Serverless, and Operations

Data and Analytics
  • Serverless data warehousing with BigQuery.
  • Real-time data stream processing with Cloud Dataflow and Pub/Sub.
  • Introduction to Machine Learning services (Cloud AI Platform, AutoML).
  • Data transfer and migration services.
Cost and Operations
  • GCP billing model and committed use discounts (CUDs).
  • Monitoring and logging with Cloud Monitoring and Cloud Logging.
  • Managing resources with Deployment Manager and Terraform (IaC).
  • Introduction to Anthos for hybrid and multi-cloud management.

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