Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
Secure and reliable Kubernetes service
Overview
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) provides a managed environment for deploying, managing, and scaling your containerized applications using Google infrastructure. The GKE environment consists of multiple machines (specifically, Compute Engine instances) grouped together to form a cluster. GKE builds on Google's experience of running services like Gmail and YouTube in containers for over 15 years.
✨ Key Features
- Managed Kubernetes control plane
- Autopilot mode for hands-off cluster management
- Four-way autoscaling (cluster, nodes, pods, resources)
- Pre-built security best practices and vulnerability scanning
- Multi-cluster management with Anthos
- Integrated with Google Cloud's ecosystem (VPC, Logging, Monitoring)
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Pioneering experience with Kubernetes (originally developed at Google).
- Autopilot mode offers a serverless Kubernetes experience.
- Strong multi-cluster and hybrid cloud capabilities with Anthos.
Unique Value: Offers a highly reliable, scalable, and automated Kubernetes experience, leveraging Google's deep expertise in running containerized workloads at a global scale.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Deploying highly available, auto-scaling applications on Google Cloud
- Leveraging Google's network and infrastructure for performance-critical workloads
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Organizations not using Google Cloud Platform
- Simple applications that do not require the power of Kubernetes
🏆 Alternatives
Often considered more feature-rich and automated than EKS and AKS, particularly with its Autopilot mode and advanced scaling capabilities.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Live Chat
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Google Cloud Paid Support plans tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
✓ 14-day free trial
Free tier: One Autopilot or Standard zonal cluster per month is free. You pay for the worker nodes and other resources consumed.
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