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Cloud FAQS

Section 1: General Cloud Computing FAQs

1. What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, and applications—over the internet. It enables businesses to scale efficiently and reduce infrastructure costs.

Key benefits:

  • On-demand access
  • Scalable resources
  • Reduced IT overhead
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing

2. How does cloud computing differ from traditional IT infrastructure?

Traditional IT relies on physical servers and in-house maintenance. Cloud computing replaces this with virtual resources accessed via the internet.

Comparison:

FeatureTraditional ITCloud Computing
CostHigh upfrontPay-as-you-go
ScalabilityManualAutomatic
MaintenanceIn-houseManaged by provider
AccessibilityLocalGlobal

3. What are the main benefits of cloud computing?

Cloud services provide cost savings, security, scalability, and improved collaboration for businesses of all sizes.

Key advantages:

  • Multi-device access
  • Integrated security tools
  • Built-in disaster recovery
  • No hardware investments

4. What are IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?

These are the three major cloud service models:

  • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Virtual machines, networking, and storage. (e.g., Compute Engine)
  • PaaS (Platform as a Service): Tools for developers to build and deploy apps. (e.g., App Engine)
  • SaaS (Software as a Service): Ready-to-use apps delivered online. (e.g., Google Workspace)

5. What is serverless computing?

Serverless computing lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers.

Benefits:

  • Cost-efficient
  • Automatically scales
  • Ideal for microservices
  • Reduces DevOps overhead

Section 2: Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Services FAQs

6. What are the key services in Google Cloud?

Google Cloud offers services across compute, storage, analytics, AI, and DevOps.

Popular tools:

  • Compute Engine (VMs)
  • BigQuery (analytics)
  • Kubernetes Engine (container management)
  • Cloud Functions (event-driven functions)
  • Cloud Storage (object storage)

7. How does Google Cloud pricing work?

Google Cloud uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Businesses can also benefit from:

  • Sustained-use discounts
  • Committed-use contracts
  • Free-tier offerings

8. How does Google Cloud compare with AWS and Azure?

  • Google Cloud: Excels in analytics, AI/ML, and open-source tools
  • AWS: Offers the broadest service portfolio
  • Azure: Best for Microsoft-centric environments

9. How does Anthos support multi-cloud environments?

Anthos allows businesses to deploy and manage Kubernetes apps across multiple environments (Google Cloud, AWS, on-prem) with consistent security and policies.

10. What is Cloud CDN, and how does it boost performance?

Cloud CDN uses Google’s edge network to cache content closer to users, reducing latency and improving website speed and SEO.

11. What is Google Cloud Armor used for?

Cloud Armor is a security service that provides DDoS protection and custom firewall rules to secure web apps hosted on Google Cloud.

Section 3: Security, Compliance & Cost Optimization

12. How can I ensure data security and compliance in the cloud?

Use tools like IAM, VPC Service Controls, and Security Command Center to meet frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.

13. What is the zero-trust model in cloud security?

A zero-trust model uses identity-based access and continuous verification. Google Cloud offers BeyondCorp and IAP to implement this.

14. What are the best practices for disaster recovery in the cloud?

Utilize multi-region backups, Cloud Storage Coldline, and automated failover mechanisms.

15. How can I reduce my cloud spending?

Cloud consulting services can help optimize infrastructure through:

  • Rightsizing VMs
  • Committed-use discounts
  • Autoscaling
  • Monitoring with Cloud Operations

Section 4: Data, AI/ML & Application Modernization

16. What is BigQuery, and how does it support analytics?

BigQuery is Google Cloud’s serverless, highly scalable data warehouse. It enables real-time analysis of massive datasets using SQL.

Benefits:

  • Near-instant queries
  • Seamless data import from multiple sources
  • Integrated with Looker and Data Studio

17. What tools does Google Cloud offer for AI and machine learning?

Google Cloud offers a wide range of AI/ML tools for developers and businesses:

  • Vertex AI: Unified platform for model building and deployment
  • AutoML: Build models without code
  • AI APIs: Pre-trained models for vision, speech, and language

18. How can I modernize my existing applications using Google Cloud?

Use containers, microservices, and managed services like:

  • Cloud Run for serverless containerized apps
  • GKE for scalable Kubernetes clusters
  • Apigee for managing APIs

19. What is the benefit of using AI for business operations?

AI improves efficiency, personalization, and decision-making through predictive analytics, automated workflows, and real-time insights.

Example use cases:

  • Customer support chatbots
  • Fraud detection
  • Inventory demand forecasting

20. How does Google Cloud support data governance and quality?

Google Cloud provides tools like Data Catalog, Dataplex, and DLP (Data Loss Prevention) to manage metadata, enforce policies, and maintain data integrity.

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