Google has been making great strides in modern computing. Aside from being the world's premier search engine, the tech giant is also actively offering state-of-the-art cloud computing services. Through its Google Cloud Platform, the company enables data transfer, storage, and processing to its customers.
What Is Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?
Google Cloud Platform is a set of cloud computing services that allows users to perform various functionalities. The services range from storing and analyzing data to developing, running, and managing applications. With GCP, companies can harness Google's powerful computing and data storage capabilities.
The GCP enables customers to use Google's physical hardware infrastructure composed of powerful computers, hard disk drives, and networking equipment. This set of hardware is contained within their data centers spread throughout different parts of the world. By paying a fee, customers can access them through virtual machines and other resources.
Average Cost of Google Cloud Platform Worldwide
Unlike other cloud computing providers, Google does not provide packages for its Google Cloud Platform customers. They charge customers based on the service and the amount of usage as needed by customers.
For simplicity, let's choose the prices of the Data storage service under Google Cloud Storage.
- USA: from US $0.007 to US $0.026 per GB per month
- London (UK): from £0.005 to £0.020 per GB per month
- Sydney (Australia): from AU $0.007 to AU $0.033 per GB per month
- Montreal (Canada): from CA $0.009 to CA $0.034 per GB per month
- Mumbai (India): from INR 0.417 to INR 1.599 per GB per month
Google Cloud Platform Cost Breakdown
For GCP's Data Storage service, the services are divided into three classes: Standard (Multi-Regional or Regional), Nearline, and Coldline.
- Standard: $0.02 to $0.036 per GB/month
- Nearline: $0.01 to $0.02 per GB/month
- Coldline: $0.004 to $0.014 per GB/month
Google recommends using Standard if you want to access frequently. You should choose Nearline if you wish to access only once per month. If you need only once-a-year access, you may opt to choose Coldline.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Google Cloud Platform
Many factors affect the pricing of each service in the GCP. Each service has its particular set of factors that affect the price of the service you are getting. Using Data Storage as an example, the cost will vary depending on the location of the data center.
The price will also change depending on the storage class that you intend to purchase. Your bill will also vary depending on the amount of storage bought, as well as the frequency of use.
Additional Costs Associated with Google Cloud Platform
Google Cloud Platform offers a wide range of services not limited to data storage. To fully experience the potential of cloud computing, you will need to purchase other GCP service aside from data storage. Among them are networking and data analysis. You can even access Google's machine learning and AI capabilities to optimize your cloud computing experience fully.
Conclusion
Google Cloud Platform provides flexibility to your business, especially in data storage and enhancement of computing power. For costs between US $0.004 to US $0.036 per GB per month, you can store data securely on the cloud without the need for purchasing expensive physical data servers. What's more is that data storage is just a part of the 50 services under the GCP that you can invest in to ready your business for the future.
