Google Cloud Platform Glossary

Companies that own massive computer centers and rent out computing power. Think of them as tech landlords.

The largest cloud providers that operate at massive global scale with millions of servers across multiple continents. Like the giants of the cloud industry that can serve billions of users simultaneously.

A building full of servers and networking equipment. Think of it as a giant computer warehouse.

Saving your files on someone else's computers via the internet instead of on your device. Like a safety deposit box for data.

Virtual Private Cloud - An isolated, private network within a public cloud provider where you control IP addressing, subnets, routing, and security. Available as AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network (VNet), Google Cloud VPC Network, and Oracle Cloud VCN. Like having your own secure, private neighborhood within a large city.

Google's cloud computing services that help you build, deploy, and scale applications using Google's infrastructure. Like using Google's massive computer network for your projects.

Tensor Processing Unit - Google's custom AI accelerator chips optimized specifically for training and running neural networks. Like having a specialist tool designed exclusively for AI workloads.

Google Cloud service that provides private connectivity between your on-premises network and Google's network. Like building a private bridge between your building and Google's data center.

Google Cloud service that creates secure VPN connections between your on-premises network and your Google Cloud VPC. Like creating a secure, encrypted highway tunnel that connects two separate cities.

Cloud services available over the internet to anyone who wants to use them, shared among multiple organizations. Like renting an apartment in a building where multiple tenants share infrastructure.

A networking component that enables resources in a virtual network to communicate with the internet. Available as AWS Internet Gateway, Azure Internet routing, and implicit in GCP VPC networks. Like the main entrance of a building connecting inside to outside.

Network Address Translation Gateway - enables private subnet resources to access the internet for outbound traffic while blocking inbound connections. Available as AWS NAT Gateway, Azure NAT Gateway, GCP Cloud NAT, and OCI NAT Gateway. Like a secure mailroom that sends packages out but rejects unsolicited deliveries.

Google Cloud's platform for building and hosting web applications without managing servers. Like renting a fully-managed restaurant kitchen where you just need to provide the recipes.

Google Cloud's serverless data warehouse for analyzing massive datasets quickly. Like having a super-computer that can answer complex questions about huge amounts of data in seconds.

Google Cloud's messaging service that allows applications to communicate asynchronously. Like a mail system where applications can send messages without waiting for replies.

Google Cloud's globally distributed database that combines the benefits of relational databases with horizontal scaling. Like having a database that works like a local one but can handle global-scale traffic.

Google Cloud's stream and batch data processing service. Like having a factory assembly line that can process both steady streams of data and large batches efficiently.

Google's mobile and web application development platform with real-time database and hosting. Like having a complete backend service that handles all server-side needs for mobile apps.

A secure computer that acts as a gateway for accessing private servers that aren't exposed to the internet. Like a security checkpoint at a building entrance - you must go through it to reach the protected areas inside.

Single Sign-On - authentication system that allows users to log in once and access multiple applications. Like having a master key for all doors in a building.

Using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid vendor lock-in and optimize performance. Like shopping at different stores to get the best deals and products.

Google Cloud's fully managed, cloud-native data integration service for building and managing ETL/ELT pipelines with a visual interface. Like having a drag-and-drop pipeline builder that connects all your data sources without writing code.

Google Cloud's fully managed service for securely connecting and managing IoT devices at scale. Note: Google Cloud deprecated this service in August 2023, recommending migration to partner solutions or third-party IoT platforms. Like a postal service that closed down, directing customers to alternative delivery services.

Google Cloud's serverless compute service that runs code in response to events. Like having helpers that automatically spring into action when specific things happen.

Google Cloud serverless platform for running containerized applications. Like having a hosting service that automatically adjusts resources based on demand.

Google Cloud's fully managed cron job scheduler for automating tasks. Like having a reliable alarm clock that triggers your cloud operations on a schedule.

Google Cloud's object storage service for storing and retrieving any amount of data. Like having unlimited digital storage space accessible from anywhere.

Google Cloud's NoSQL wide-column database for real-time analytics. Like having a massive spreadsheet that can handle billions of rows and columns instantly.

Google Cloud's managed Apache Spark and Hadoop service for big data processing. Like renting a supercomputer cluster that's pre-configured for data analysis.

Storing multiple copies of data to protect against loss and ensure availability. Like keeping backup copies of important files in different locations so you never lose them.

Google Cloud service for developing, deploying, and managing APIs. Like having a professional receptionist service that handles all API requests and manages access.

Google Cloud security service that provides DDoS protection and web application firewall. Like having a digital security guard that protects your applications from attacks.

Storing copies of data in multiple geographic locations to protect against regional disasters. Like keeping important documents in safe deposit boxes in different cities.

Google Cloud's modern business intelligence and analytics platform with a unique semantic modeling layer. Like having a data translator that ensures everyone in the company speaks the same data language and sees consistent metrics.

Google's unified machine learning platform for building, deploying, and scaling AI models. Like having Google's AI expertise available as a complete toolkit for your projects.

Google's global load balancing service that distributes traffic across regions. Like having a worldwide traffic management system that routes users to the best servers.

Google's service for dynamic routing in virtual networks using BGP. Like having an intelligent GPS system for network traffic that automatically finds the best paths.

Google Cloud's managed network address translation service that allows private instances to access the internet without exposing them to incoming connections. Like having a secure one-way door that lets your private servers reach out to the internet while keeping them hidden from outside traffic.

Google's service for monitoring performance and health of cloud applications. Like having a dashboard that shows the vital signs of all your applications in real-time.

Google Cloud's centralized logging service that collects, stores, and analyzes logs from all your applications and infrastructure. Like having a detailed diary that automatically records everything happening across your cloud environment.

Google Cloud's security and risk management platform that provides centralized visibility into your cloud assets, vulnerabilities, and threats. Like having a security control room that monitors your entire cloud environment for potential risks and compliance issues.

Google's machine learning service for image analysis and computer vision. Like giving applications the ability to see and understand visual content like humans do.

Google's service for understanding and analyzing human language. Like having an AI that can read and comprehend text with human-like understanding.

Google's advanced neural machine translation service. Like having Google Translate's power available for your applications with enterprise features.

Google's service for converting audio to text with high accuracy. Like having a professional transcriptionist that works instantly and supports many languages.

Google's service for converting text into natural-sounding spoken audio. Like having a professional voice actor that can read any text in multiple languages and voices.

Google's service for extracting structured data from documents using machine learning. Like having an AI assistant that can read and organize any type of document.

Google Kubernetes Engine - Google's managed Kubernetes service for container orchestration. Like having Google's container experts manage your application deployment infrastructure.

Google's service for storing and managing Docker container images. Like having a private warehouse for your containerized applications with version control.

Google's hybrid and multi-cloud application platform for modernizing applications. Like having a universal translator that makes applications work the same way across different cloud environments.

Google's enterprise-grade conversational AI platform for building complex chatbots and virtual agents with advanced conversation flows and natural language understanding. Like creating sophisticated customer service bots that can handle multi-turn conversations.

Google Cloud Contact Center AI Platform - an AI-first contact center as a service with omnichannel routing, Agent Assist for real-time agent guidance, and deep CRM integration. Like having Google's AI helping your support team in real-time.

Google's enterprise search service offering Google-quality search with semantic understanding, vector search, and RAG capabilities for building intelligent search experiences. Formerly known as Google Cloud Enterprise Search.

Google Cloud's implementation of Virtual Private Cloud, providing global-by-default networking that spans all regions. Unlike AWS VPCs which are regional, GCP VPC Networks can have subnets in different regions within the same network. Equivalent to AWS VPC, Azure VNet, and OCI VCN.

Google Cloud's virtual machine service that provides scalable, high-performance virtual machines.

Google Cloud's fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server.

A website that helps you find information on the internet by typing keywords. Like a librarian who can instantly find any book or information you need.

Uniform Resource Locator - the web address you type to visit a specific website. Like a postal address that tells your browser exactly where to go.

When you become dependent on a specific cloud provider's proprietary services and switching to another provider becomes difficult or expensive. Like building your house with custom parts that only work with one supplier.

Global Positioning System - technology that uses satellites to determine your exact location on Earth. Like having a digital compass that always knows exactly where you are.

Using someone else's computers over the internet for specific tasks instead of doing everything on your own device. Like renting specialized equipment instead of buying it.

Applications that run on cloud servers instead of entirely on your device. Like using a tool that exists in a workshop you can visit anytime, rather than owning the tool yourself.

Working together on projects using cloud-based tools that let multiple people edit and share files in real-time. Like having a shared workspace that everyone can access simultaneously.

Domain Name System - translates human-readable website names into computer addresses. Like a phone book that converts 'Pizza Place' into the actual phone number.

A subdivision of a virtual network that segments resources by IP range for security, organization, and routing control. Used across all cloud providers: AWS subnets within VPCs, Azure subnets within VNets, GCP subnets within VPC Networks, and OCI subnets within VCNs. Like dividing a building into floors with different access rules.

GCP managed build service that can both compile code and orchestrate deployment workflows. Like a versatile automation system that can handle the entire journey from source code to running application.

GCP service for advanced deployment orchestration with support for progressive rollouts and approval gates. Like a sophisticated deployment manager that carefully rolls out changes with safety checks.

Moving applications, data, or infrastructure from one environment to another, such as from on-premises servers to the cloud or between cloud providers. Like relocating a business to a new building while keeping everything running.

Google Cloud service for managing container images and language packages in one place. Like a universal warehouse for all your software building blocks.

Google Cloud managed Apache Airflow service for orchestrating data pipelines. Like having a professional conductor for your data workflows.

Google Cloud security analytics platform built on Google infrastructure for threat detection. Like having Google's security expertise watching over your organization's data.

Google Cloud's fully managed NoSQL document database designed for mobile, web, and server development. Like a filing cabinet that automatically organizes and syncs your documents across all devices.

A comprehensive suite of cloud services from a single provider that enables building, deploying, and managing applications. Like a complete toolkit for building in the cloud.

Cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over computer networks. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) was the original protocol, now replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security). Like a secure envelope that protects your mail from being read in transit, SSL/TLS encrypts data between your browser and websites. AWS Certificate Manager, Azure App Service Certificates, Google Cloud SSL Certificates, and OCI Certificates all provide managed TLS certificate services.

A specialized server that acts as a secure gateway for accessing private resources in a cloud network. Like a security checkpoint at a building entrance, a bastion host is the single controlled entry point for administrators to access internal servers that aren't directly exposed to the internet. AWS offers EC2 Instance Connect and Session Manager, Azure provides Azure Bastion, GCP has Identity-Aware Proxy, and OCI offers Bastion service.

A software development practice where developers frequently merge code changes into a shared repository, with each change automatically built and tested. Like a quality control checkpoint on an assembly line that catches defects early, CI ensures code changes don't break existing functionality. AWS CodeBuild, Azure Pipelines, Google Cloud Build, and OCI DevOps all provide CI services.

A centralized repository of information used to store, organize, and retrieve knowledge for users or AI systems. In cloud computing, knowledge bases power AI assistants, customer support systems, and enterprise search. AWS Kendra and Bedrock Knowledge Bases, Azure AI Search, Google Cloud Vertex AI Search, and OCI Generative AI all provide managed knowledge base services.

A messaging pattern where senders (publishers) broadcast messages to a topic without knowing who receives them, and receivers (subscribers) listen to topics they're interested in. Like a radio station broadcasting to anyone tuned in, pub/sub decouples producers from consumers. AWS SNS, Azure Service Bus Topics, Google Cloud Pub/Sub, and OCI Notifications all implement this pattern.

The practice of copying data or resources across multiple geographic regions for disaster recovery, low-latency access, or compliance requirements. Like having backup copies of important documents in different cities, regional replication ensures data survives regional outages. AWS S3 Cross-Region Replication, Azure Geo-Redundant Storage, Google Cloud multi-regional storage, and OCI Cross-Region Replication all provide this capability.

Software as a Service - a cloud delivery model where applications are hosted and managed by a provider, accessed via the internet on a subscription basis. Like renting an apartment instead of building a house, SaaS eliminates the need to install, maintain, or upgrade software. Examples include Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Oracle Cloud Applications. Cloud providers also offer SaaS marketplaces (AWS Marketplace, Azure Marketplace, Google Cloud Marketplace, OCI Marketplace).

A cloud-based collaboration platform that combines workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration. Part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams integrates deeply with Azure services for enterprise deployments. Similar collaboration tools exist across cloud ecosystems: AWS offers Amazon Chime, Google provides Google Meet and Chat, and Oracle offers Oracle Cloud collaboration features.

Secret tokens used to authenticate and authorize access to cloud services and APIs. Like a password for software applications, API keys identify the calling application and control what actions it can perform. AWS uses Access Keys and Secret Keys, Azure provides Subscription Keys and Service Principal credentials, GCP uses API Keys and Service Account Keys, and OCI uses API Signing Keys.

The practice of using code and tools to automatically provision, configure, and manage cloud infrastructure instead of manual processes. Like having robots build and maintain your data center, infrastructure automation ensures consistent, repeatable, and error-free deployments. Tools include Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, Azure Resource Manager, Google Cloud Deployment Manager, and OCI Resource Manager.

Strategies and practices for reducing cloud spending while maintaining performance and reliability. Like finding ways to reduce your utility bills without sacrificing comfort, cost optimization involves right-sizing resources, using reserved capacity, eliminating waste, and choosing cost-effective architectures. AWS offers Cost Explorer and Trusted Advisor, Azure provides Cost Management, GCP has Cost Management tools, and OCI offers Cost Analysis.

A network component that acts as an entry point or intermediary between different networks or services. Like a toll booth on a highway, gateways control and manage traffic flow. In cloud computing, common gateway types include API Gateway (manages API traffic), NAT Gateway (enables outbound internet access for private resources), VPN Gateway (connects on-premises networks), and Internet Gateway (connects VPCs to the internet). AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI all offer managed gateway services.