Google Cloud Essentials: A Beginner's Guide to Cloud Computing with Google Cloud Platform

"Get Started with Google Cloud Platform" is a beginner-friendly textbook that provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of cloud computing. It is designed to help readers understand and utilize the essential services offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) effectively. The book covers a wide range of topics, starting with an overview of cloud computing and its benefits. It then delves into the core services of GCP, including Compute Engine, App Engine, and BigQuery. With Compute Engine, readers will learn how to create and manage virtual machines in the cloud. They will explore different instance types, storage options, and networking capabilities to customize their virtual machines according to their application requirements. Additionally, readers will discover how to effectively monitor and scale their infrastructure using Compute Engine. App Engine, another important service offered by GCP, enables users to build and deploy scalable web applications effortlessly. The book provides comprehensive guidance on designing and developing applications using App Engine, covering topics such as application architecture, data storage, security, and management. Readers will also learn how to effectively use App Engine's deployment tools and monitor the performance of their applications. The textbook also introduces readers to BigQuery, a powerful data analytics platform provided by GCP. It covers topics such as data ingestion, querying large datasets, and performing advanced analytics using BigQuery's built-in machine learning capabilities. Readers will gain practical knowledge on how to harness the power of data analytics and transform raw data into valuable insights using BigQuery. Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to explore and practice with hands-on examples and exercises. These practical exercises provide an opportunity to apply the concepts learned, gain practical experience with GCP, and reinforce understanding. In addition to the core services, the book also covers other essential components of GCP, including Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Functions, and Cloud Pub/Sub. Readers will learn how to effectively use these services to develop and deploy applications, store and retrieve data, trigger serverless functions, and build event-driven systems. Furthermore, the textbook provides guidance on managing and securing resources on GCP, including identity and access management, network security, and compliance. It also covers best practices for optimizing costs, monitoring performance, and ensuring high availability of applications deployed on GCP. Overall, "Get Started with Google Cloud Platform" is a comprehensive and beginner-friendly textbook that equips readers with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage GCP's extensive suite of services. Whether readers are new to cloud computing or experienced practitioners, this book serves as an essential guide to building and deploying applications, harnessing the power of data analytics, and utilizing GCP's scalable infrastructure.