It is hard to deny that Google has grown considerably ever since it burst onto the scene in the latter stages of the 20th Century. After all, it has gone from being just a search engine to offering widely-used services and products such as YouTube and Google Mail, in addition to one of the world’s most popular mobile operating systems in the form of Android. So, it’s safe to say that Google’s products have taken the world by storm over the last couple of decades.
Upon the introduction of the Google Cloud Platform in 2008, the tech giant began to provide a collection of their computing resources – making them available as a public cloud offering which the general public could make full use of. By 2017, Google had made 22 zones and 8 news regions available, which extended the original offering of 18 zones in 6 regions. This included Oregon, Iowa, Belgium, Taiwan, Tokyo, and South Carolina.
One of the most popular services provided by Google Cloud Platform is undoubtedly the Google Cloud VPN service – allowing you to connect the network on your premises to your Google Cloud Platform Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network. This makes use of a secure IPsec VPN tunneling protocol which encrypts traffic traveling between the two networks by one gateway, then it is decrypted by the other VPN gateway.
In the following article, we’ll delve deeper into what Google Cloud VPN is all about and how it can help to secure private networks and any data that is transferred over the network. So, without any further ado, let’s get to it!
What is Google Cloud VPN and what does it do?
Before we jump into how Google Cloud VPN works, it would be appropriate to explain exactly what it is first, right?! Well, it is essentially a service which allows you to connect your existing infrastructure to the widely-used Google Cloud Platform, otherwise known as GCP.
Using the same infrastructure that is used for end-user products including YouTube and Google Search, Google Cloud Platform has gone from strength to strength in that it allows its user base to benefit from over 50 services. Not only does this include the Google Cloud VPN, but it also includes such things as Storage and Databases, Networking and Identity, Management and Developer tools, and so much more.
Each feature of the Google Cloud Platform can be used individually or even in combination. So, if you’re looking to make use of the Google Cloud VPN service in conjunction with another of the services, you have the ability to do exactly that if you so desire.
Now that you’ve found out a little about Google Cloud VPN and the service it is able to provide you with, it’s time for you to discover exactly how it works and how it can help to secure your data which is transferred over your network. Here’s everything that you need to know.
How does Google Cloud VPN work?
If you’re looking to make use of Google Cloud VPN, then there are some things that you need to be aware of beforehand. With that in mind, the following section will cover all the essential information that will give you a deeper understanding of what Google Cloud VPN is capable of when you have everything that you need to get started.
Once you have signed up to the Google Cloud Platform, you will have the ability to take full advantage of each and every resource which is available via the service. Of course, Google Cloud VPN is just one of the services at your disposal – allowing you to connect your private, on-premises network to the secured resources on the incredibly powerful and secure Google Cloud Platform.
Operating over an IPsec connection using a shared handshake (either IKEv1 or IKEv2), Google Cloud VPN supports both static and dynamic routes when you are using a Cloud Router. However, what is important to remember is that Google Cloud VPN is for router-to-router VPN connections only, and not client-to-site connections. This is something that you would do if you were to connect using a device such as a computer or a tablet device.
The whole set up process should be relatively plain and simple for anyone who is an expert when it comes to setting up VPN connections. To get things up and running, you will need to run through your settings on the Google Cloud Platform web interface. Once you have done exactly that, you will be able to connect your existing infrastructure to the secure Google Cloud Platform over the internet – taking full advantage of the authenticated and encrypted connection which keeps your personal information and data secure at all times.
However, just remember that while site-to-site VPN is supported with an SLA of 99% service availability, you will need a dedicated physical or virtual VPN gateway on the client side. So, be sure to bear this in mind before you attempt to get everything set up.
Final thoughts
So, there you have it! That concludes our complete overview of Google Cloud VPN! It’s clear to see that it allows you to secure your private network with an encrypted connection, all while ensuring that any data that is transferred over the network is kept safe and well away from any prying eyes.
This is a great choice for companies who are looking to prevent their data being subjected to unauthorised access, and allows you to take advantage of your Google Cloud Platform (GCP) resources by connecting them to your private network over a VPN (Virtual Private Network)What is a VPN?.
All in all, it’s crucial to remember that you need to do everything in your power to keep your personal information protected in the digital age. After all, there are an ever-increasing number of cyber-attacks occurring around the world. So, if you fail to take the necessary precautions, you might well become a victim yourself. Thankfully, a VPN is the perfect solution as it not only protects your data, it also encrypts your web traffic and allows you to enjoy safe and anonymous browsing too.
VPN specialist and writer
Nadin has been tinkering with computers and gadgets for as long as she can remember. She has extensive knowledge about various topics, including IoT, Linux, digital security, and more. Nowadays, she works as an IT network professional and writes helpful guides in her free time.
This was an excellent overview! I was really confused when I first heard about Google Cloud VPN but this really helped me. Thanks guys! 🙂
Am I wrong for thinking this is similar to letting the fox guard the henhouse? I don’t see people who value their privacy entrusting any secure data to Google. My understanding is they work with governments to spy on people. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I use my VPN to protect myself from Google so why would I use the Google Cloud VPN?
I feel the same way. Google already knows too much about all of us so why give it even more power? It’s clear that intentionally or unintentionally (being hacked), the data Google stores can be at risk at any time.