Google VPC Network
Author: Ronald Fung
Creation Date: 12 June 2023
Next Modified Date: 12 June 2024
A. Introduction
Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) provides networking functionality to Compute Engine virtual machine (VM) instances, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) clusters, and the App Engine flexible environment. VPC provides networking for your cloud-based resources and services that is global, scalable, and flexible.
This page provides a high-level overview of VPC concepts and features.
VPC networks
You can think of a VPC network the same way you’d think of a physical network, except that it is virtualized within Google Cloud. A VPC network is a global resource that consists of a list of regional virtual subnetworks (subnets) in data centers, all connected by a global wide area network. VPC networks are logically isolated from each other in Google Cloud.
VPC network example (click to enlarge)
A VPC network does the following:
Provides connectivity for your Compute Engine virtual machine (VM) instances, including Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) clusters, App Engine flexible environment instances, and other Google Cloud products built on Compute Engine VMs.
Offers built-in internal TCP/UDP load balancers and proxy systems for internal HTTP(S) load balancers.
Connects to on-premises networks by using Cloud VPN tunnels and VLAN attachments for Cloud Interconnect.
Distributes traffic from Google Cloud external load balancers to backends.
Read more about VPC networks.
B. How is it used at Seagen
Seagen can use Google VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) networks to create a secure and isolated network environment for their applications and services running on Google Cloud Platform. Here are some steps to get started with Google VPC networks:
Create a Google Cloud account: Seagen can create a Google Cloud account in the Google Cloud Console. This will give them access to Google VPC networks and other Google Cloud services.
Create a VPC network: Seagen can create a VPC network in the Google Cloud Console, which represents a virtual network that is logically isolated from other networks. They can specify the network settings, such as the IP address range, subnet, and firewall rules.
Connect to the VPC network: Seagen can connect to the VPC network using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or a dedicated interconnect. This will allow them to securely access the network resources from their on-premises environment.
Deploy the applications: Seagen can deploy their applications and services on the VPC network, using the appropriate compute and storage resources, such as Google Compute Engine and Google Cloud Storage. They can specify the network settings, such as the subnetwork, firewall rules, and load balancing.
Configure the security and access controls: Seagen can configure the security and access controls for the VPC network, using the appropriate Google Cloud services, such as Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Google Cloud Security Command Center. They can define the access policies, roles, and permissions for the network resources.
Monitor the network traffic: Seagen can monitor the network traffic on the VPC network, using the appropriate Google Cloud services, such as Google Cloud Logging and Google Cloud Monitoring. They can track the network usage, performance, and security incidents.
Overall, by using Google VPC networks, Seagen can create a secure and isolated network environment for their applications and services running on Google Cloud Platform, and ensure that their data and resources are protected from unauthorized access and attacks. With its support for VPN and dedicated interconnect, powerful compute and storage resources, and robust security and access controls, Google VPC networks is an excellent choice for businesses and organizations that need to run their applications and services on the cloud securely and efficiently.
C. Features
Google VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) networks is a networking service provided by Google Cloud Platform that allows users to create secure, private networks in the cloud. Here are some of the key features of Google VPC networks:
Secure and isolated networks: Google VPC networks provide secure and isolated networks that allow users to deploy and run their applications and services in a private cloud environment. Users can create custom IP address ranges, subnets, and firewall rules to control network traffic and access.
Flexible connectivity options: Google VPC networks provide flexible connectivity options, including VPN (Virtual Private Network) and dedicated interconnect, that allow users to securely connect their on-premises environments to the cloud. Users can also use Google Cloud Router to dynamically exchange routes between their on-premises network and their VPC network.
Scalable and high-performance: Google VPC networks provide scalable and high-performance networking capabilities that can handle large and complex workloads. Users can use Google Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine, and other compute and storage resources to deploy their applications and services on the network.
Granular security and access controls: Google VPC networks provide granular security and access controls that allow users to define access policies, roles, and permissions for their network resources. Users can use Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) to manage access to the network resources.
Monitoring and logging: Google VPC networks provide monitoring and logging capabilities that allow users to track network usage, performance, and security incidents. Users can use Google Cloud Logging and Google Cloud Monitoring to monitor their network traffic and detect anomalies and intrusions.
Overall, Google VPC networks is a powerful and flexible networking service that allows users to create secure, private networks in the cloud, and deploy and run their applications and services with high performance and scalability. With its support for flexible connectivity options, granular security and access controls, and monitoring and logging capabilities, Google VPC networks is an excellent choice for businesses and organizations that need to run their workloads on the cloud securely and efficiently.
D. Where Implemented
E. How it is tested
Testing Google VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) networks involves ensuring that the network resources are configured correctly, that the network traffic is flowing properly, and that the security and access controls are properly configured. Here are some steps to test Google VPC networks:
Create a test VPC network: Create a test VPC network in the Google Cloud Console that mimics the production VPC network as closely as possible, including the IP address range, subnets, and firewall rules.
Deploy test resources: Deploy test resources, such as Google Compute Engine instances or Google Kubernetes Engine clusters, on the test VPC network. Ensure that the resources are properly configured and that they can communicate with each other.
Test network connectivity: Test the network connectivity between the test resources using ping or other network testing tools. Ensure that the network traffic is flowing properly and that there are no connectivity issues.
Test security and access controls: Test the security and access controls for the test VPC network using Google Cloud IAM. Ensure that the access policies, roles, and permissions are properly configured, and that users and services can access the network resources as intended.
Test network monitoring and logging: Test the network monitoring and logging capabilities for the test VPC network using Google Cloud Logging and Google Cloud Monitoring. Ensure that the network traffic is being logged and monitored properly, and that alerts and notifications are being sent as intended.
Test network performance and scalability: Test the network performance and scalability for the test VPC network using Google Cloud Load Balancing and other performance testing tools. Ensure that the network can handle large and complex workloads and that the performance is consistent and reliable.
Overall, by thoroughly testing Google VPC networks, users can ensure that their network resources are properly configured, that the network traffic is flowing properly, and that the security and access controls are properly configured. Additionally, users can reach out to Google Cloud support for help with any technical challenges they may encounter.
F. 2023 Roadmap
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G. 2024 Roadmap
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H. Known Issues
While Google VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) networks is a reliable and powerful networking service provided by Google Cloud Platform, there are some known issues that users may encounter. Here are some of the known issues for Google VPC networks:
Network performance issues: Users may encounter network performance issues with Google VPC networks, such as slow network speeds or high latency. These issues can often be resolved by optimizing the network settings, such as using the appropriate machine types, adjusting the routing tables, or enabling network load balancing.
Connectivity issues: Users may encounter connectivity issues with Google VPC networks, such as unstable connections or intermittent failures. These issues can often be resolved by configuring the appropriate connectivity options, such as VPN or dedicated interconnect, and ensuring that the network resources are properly configured.
Security issues: Users may encounter security issues with Google VPC networks, such as unauthorized access or data breaches. These issues can often be resolved by implementing the appropriate security and compliance controls, such as encryption, access control, and auditing.
Integration issues: Users may encounter integration issues with Google VPC networks, such as interoperability issues or compatibility issues with other systems. These issues can often be resolved by using the appropriate integration standards, such as REST APIs or messaging protocols, and ensuring that the network resources are compatible with other systems.
Cost issues: Users may encounter cost issues with Google VPC networks, such as unexpected charges or inefficient resource utilization. These issues can often be resolved by optimizing the network configuration, such as using the appropriate machine types, storage options, and pricing models.
Overall, while these issues may impact some users, Google VPC networks remains a reliable and powerful networking service that is widely used by businesses and organizations around the world. By monitoring their network usage and reviewing their usage reports and logs, users can ensure that their network resources are secure, scalable, and cost-effective, and that they are complying with industry and regulatory standards. Additionally, users can reach out to Google Cloud support for help with any known issues or other technical challenges they may encounter.
[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture
[x] Reviewed by Application Development
[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture