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Emmanuel Abodesegun - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Software Engineer at Moniepoint
Real User
Dec 20, 2023
Efficient, and offers the ability to virtualize the database
Pros and Cons
  • "We hardly have a breakdown. It's been very stable."
  • "I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for deploying our applications. All our applications are based on Kubernetes, so we create our products with Kubernetes.

What is most valuable?

I find Google's services very stable, and I appreciate some of the unique features it offers, like the ability to virtualize the database and access detailed analytics, which simplifies management.

Its main advantage is the technology itself, which allows our applications to scale easily. This scalability reduces downtime significantly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I started using it when I joined the company. Initially, I was more familiar with things around Azure, but Google Kubernetes Engine was my first experience with Google’s cloud services when I joined MoniePoint. I contacted Google and learned about the competitive cloud market with AWS, Azure, and Google. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.  We hardly have a breakdown. It's been very stable.

We, the developers, do experience some downtime occasionally, but we are relatively new to it.

Buyer's Guide
Google Kubernetes Engine
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Google Kubernetes Engine. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
902,270 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I used Azure. The switch to Google Kubernetes Engine was due to a change in my employment. I started using Google when I joined this new place last year. It's a very efficient tool. 

What about the implementation team?

The DevOps team takes care of this aspect.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. It's worth trying out.

I would recommend Google as a cloud service option. I wasn't aware of how good it was initially, but having tested it, I see that it's very efficient and good. We hardly have any issues; so, it's very efficient and good.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Tichaona Gandhle - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Technology Director at Mayhem Shield
Real User
Sep 22, 2023
A highly scalable and simple-to-use solution that can be used for containerizing
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Google Kubernetes Engine is how you can automatically scale and load balance."
  • "Google Kubernetes Engine's cost should be improved because it is high."

What is our primary use case?

We use Google Kubernetes Engine, usually for containerizing.

How has it helped my organization?

Google Kubernetes Engine has helped our organization to deploy classes faster.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Google Kubernetes Engine is how you can automatically scale and load balance.

What needs improvement?

Google Kubernetes Engine's cost should be improved because it is high.

It would help if Google Kubernetes Engine could be made more customizable.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Google Kubernetes Engine for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Google Kubernetes Engine is a pretty stable solution.

I rate Google Kubernetes Engine an eight or nine out of ten for stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Google Kubernetes Engine's scalability is pretty high.

I rate Google Kubernetes Engine a nine out of ten for scalability.

How was the initial setup?

The solution’s initial deployment is pretty easy.

What was our ROI?

Our clients have seen a return on investment with Google Kubernetes Engine, which is diminishing because competitors now have better products.

What other advice do I have?

I am using the latest version of Google Kubernetes Engine.

Google Kubernetes Engine is deployed on-cloud in our organization.

I would advise users to pay attention to the vendor lock-in. Sometimes, they reduce access to infrastructure. I would pay much attention to implementing the solution to have better visibility of the performance issues, especially concerning direct access to virtual machines.

Google Kubernetes Engine is pretty simple to use. It is pretty good as long as you use the solution within Google Cloud.

The solution's ease of use comes with the cost. Whoever wants to use the solution must weigh what's more important to them: the cost they'll pay to Google or the cost they'll pay their staff to make it work as well as they need.

Overall, I rate Google Kubernetes Engine an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Google Kubernetes Engine
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Google Kubernetes Engine. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
902,270 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2561130 - PeerSpot reviewer
DevOps Engineer at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 5
Sep 29, 2024
Effective project management with improved permissions but complex configurations
Pros and Cons
  • "The most beneficial feature is the ability to separate each project and manage permissions more effectively."
  • "The primary area for improvement would be the complexity involved when working with Google Kubernetes Engine, especially when using Terraform."

What is our primary use case?

We use Google Kubernetes Engine primarily for our production clusters, running several microservices and main services. We have one main separate cluster for production testing, and for our actual production, we manage separate clusters.

How has it helped my organization?

Google Kubernetes Engine has helped us manage our infrastructure more securely, especially when separating projects and assigning permissions. This categorization enhances security as we streamline roles and permissions management.

What is most valuable?

The most beneficial feature is the ability to separate each project and manage permissions more effectively. This categorization is especially useful for security purposes. I find managing IAM roles in GCP to be better than AWS.

What needs improvement?

The primary area for improvement would be the complexity involved when working with Google Kubernetes Engine, especially when using Terraform. It can be more complex compared to AWS

Additionally, the process of managing IAM roles and integration with other Google services can be cumbersome and could use some simplification.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Google Kubernetes Engine for about one year to one and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have not encountered any major stability issues with the Google Kubernetes Engine. Aside from the usual errors that occur day-to-day, such as image pull-back errors, we maintain a stable environment by using versions that are one or two versions behind the latest release.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The auto-scaling performance is really good in both GCP and AWS. I have not experienced any issues with auto-scaling capabilities, and they meet our demands efficiently.

How are customer service and support?

Usually, our upper management takes care of any escalations to tech support, so I do not have direct experience with their customer service.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Google Kubernetes Engine took me about two days. I primarily used Terraform scripts for deployment and testing.

What about the implementation team?

Initially, when starting with Google Kubernetes Engine, I required some help, especially with configurations involving Helm charts and additional components such as the ingress controller. Once everything was set up, maintaining it became more manageable.

What was our ROI?

Google Kubernetes Engine has been cost-effective and has improved our operational productivity. However, GKE can be more expensive compared to AWS when it comes to certain services like Compute Engine. Integrating with multiple cloud providers is easier with GCP, making it a flexible solution for our diverse requirements.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I'm aware of the normal pricing, but it's not on top of my head. AWS is generally cheaper than GCP for most use cases. Costing fluctuates based on different purposes and sizes.

What other advice do I have?

If you are using multiple cloud provider services, such as DNS management from DigitalOcean or S3 buckets from AWS, integrating with Google is simpler than AWS. For smaller functions, services like AWS Lambda can be more cost-effective than running them on GKE. It is important to utilize the proper tools for easy maintenance.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Software Architect at AIOPS group
Real User
Feb 13, 2024
Helps to automate Docker management
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution simplified deployment, making it more automated. Previously, Docker required manual configuration, often done by developers on their computers. However, with Google Kubernetes Engine, automation extends to configuration, deployment, scalability, and viability, primarily originating from Docker rather than Kubernetes. Its most valuable feature is the ease of configuration."
  • "The tool's configuration features need improvement."

What is our primary use case?

The product helps us to manage Docker easily using automation. 

What is most valuable?

The solution simplified deployment, making it more automated. Previously, Docker required manual configuration, often done by developers on their computers. However, with Google Kubernetes Engine, automation extends to configuration, deployment, scalability, and viability, primarily originating from Docker rather than Kubernetes. Its most valuable feature is the ease of configuration. 

What needs improvement?

The tool's configuration features need improvement. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We had some stability issues in the past. I rate the tool's stability a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability a ten out of ten. Google Kubernetes Engine has around 100-200 users in my company. 

How are customer service and support?

Google's support is good and fast. It's available 24/7. 

How was the initial setup?

It will take some time for someone to get used to it, and there's a learning curve that shouldn't be skipped or neglected. But then, things will start to click, and you'll notice that the product is easy to deploy. The deployment setups are readily available from Google or Microsoft. You need to configure them, which can be done with these scripts and by automating your CI/CD processes. It's all interconnected with CI/CD.

What about the implementation team?

Google Kubernetes Engine can be deployed in-house. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The tool's licensing costs are yearly. 

What other advice do I have?

The inter-system communication, including the ports used, is all described within Docker. The product manages these Docker pieces and builds the bigger picture. 

We integrate it as part of our DevOps script. It's all connected, with actions for the desktop, the CD Engine, and deployment on managed Kubernetes instances on Google Cloud. It's all automated and works well together.

I rate the overall product a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Harish Kawade - PeerSpot reviewer
Performance Specialist at DKATALIS
Real User
Dec 28, 2023
Along with great scalability and reliability features, the tool also makes CI/CD implementation easy
Pros and Cons
  • "I am satisfied with the stability offered by the solution."
  • "The monitoring part requires some serious improvements in Google Kubernetes Engine, as it does not have very good monitoring consoles."

What is our primary use case?

In our company, the microservices are deployed into the containers in Google Kubernetes Engine.

What is most valuable?

Google Kubernetes Engine itself is quite a revolutionary concept. The scalability and reliability features of the product are fascinating, and they help a lot. With Google Kubernetes Engine, the area around deployment and the CI/CD implementation is easy.

What needs improvement?

The monitoring part requires some serious improvements in Google Kubernetes Engine, as it does not have very good monitoring consoles. If Google Kubernetes Engine comes up with monitoring consoles, that would be helpful.

During deployment, if the product provides users with an interactive kind of proper dashboard, which gives status or feedback on deployment, it will be helpful.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Google Kubernetes Engine for around two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I am satisfied with the stability offered by the solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Google Kubernetes Engine is an industry leader. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

More than 200 people in my company use the solution.

The use of the solution is increasing day by day in my company as Google Kubernetes Engine is the main platform we use for development. Our organization is rapidly growing, and new teams are being introduced.

How are customer service and support?

Though I have not contacted the solution's technical support, through our company's regular channels, we keep watch for regular updates. If there is any escalation or ticket that was raised, our company gets good support from Google. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

I rate the product's initial setup phase a seven out of ten.

The solution is deployed on a hybrid cloud.

The time required to deploy the product depends on how many services you want to be deployed at a time in your environment. In general, deploying the product doesn't take much time since it can usually be done in ten to fifteen minutes. If everything goes smoothly during the deployment process, it won't take much time, and if something gets stuck, then it may require time for a person to deploy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Initially, Google Kubernetes Engine was a little bit cheaper, but now its prices have been increased compared to the pricing model and the features that are made available by its competitors.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend others try the solution and see if it suits and meets your budget. I recommend the solution to others because of the scalability, reliability, and ease of use it offers.

I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Cloud Engineer at Freelancer
Real User
Oct 17, 2023
Provides various options for load balancing and allows for the automatic management of workloads
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is very easy. We can create our cluster using the command line, or using our console."
  • "I would like to see the ability to create multiple notebook configurations."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using a different infrastructure-as-code engine, Terraform, to create Kubernetes clusters. I specify the machine type and memory requirements in my Terraform configuration, and Terraform sets up the network. With Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Google manages the Kubernetes control plane, so I only need to focus on creating and managing nodes. Currently, I'm creating pre-node Kubernetes clusters, including private clusters for security. Workloads can be deployed to GKE using YAML files or the Kubernetes CLI. To expose deployments to end users, I create load balancers. I use cluster autoscaling and HBA host port autoscaling to automatically maintain my workloads at the desired size. GKE also provides various options for load balancing, including ingress. QoS handles credentials using secret resources, and configuration is done using ConfigMaps. The main workflow is to create deployments, ports, services, secrets, and configuration maps.

What is most valuable?

Workloads are automatically manageable, and there's a cluster autoscaling option in Google Kubernetes Engine. It also supports HBA host port autoscaling, maintaining ports at the desired size. You can create a load balancer for different types of service access using ingress. QoS handles credentials with secret resources, and configuration is done through ConfigMaps.

So, autoscaling is the most valuable feature. 

What needs improvement?

I would like to see the ability to create multiple notebook configurations. In a cluster, we can create multiple notebooks, which means multiple machine configurations. This would be better because if we have a job that requires high CPU, then we can have a notebook available for that job with a high CPU machine type. 

And if we have a job that requires high memory, then we can have a notebook available for that job with a high memory machine type.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience using this solution. It's been six to seven months now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Google Kubernetes Engine is very stable.

How are customer service and support?

There's no issue because if I face problems, I just Google it, and I find the solution.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have previously worked with Docker. I have created and deployed containers using Docker and Docker Hub.

GKE is a managed Kubernetes service that runs on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It makes it easy to deploy and manage containerized applications on GCP.

How was the initial setup?

You can deploy workloads to GKE using YAML files or the Kubernetes CLI.

The initial setup is very easy. 

What about the implementation team?

We can create our cluster using the command line or using our console.

First of all, you have to provide the name of your cluster. And you have to create your default notebook according to your workload. And if you have to provide, if the cluster is either private or public, and the other things that you need to add is like a cluster networking. The security section is also implemented. You have to create to mention if the cluster can be delectable. There's an option for specific, enable, and delete protection.

So, with all these configurations set up using the console or command line, you can either click to create or just hit the command, and your cluster will be deployed on your platform.

Google Kubernetes Engine requires some maintenance. However, most of the maintenance tasks are handled by Google Cloud. For example, Google Cloud will automatically patch the Kubernetes Engine nodes and apply security updates.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Kubernetes is an open-source project, so there is no licensing cost. However, there are costs associated with running Kubernetes in the cloud, such as the cost of the compute resources and the cost of the managed service (if you are using a managed Kubernetes service like GKE).

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have worked with App Engine and Cloud Functions. I recently learned about the Data Flow service, which allows you to move data from one source to another in real-time or batch mode. For example, you could use it to count the number of times each word appears in a textbook. You can save the results of your data flow to a Cloud Storage bucket.

Dataflow is a powerful tool for processing large amounts of data. You can also use Dataflow to save your results, such as text or documents, to a cloud storage bucket.

When you run a Dataflow job, Dataflow will process the data from your source, such as a Cloud Storage bucket, and store the results in a bucket that you specify. If you have a real-time data processing need, such as tracking the location of a taxi, you can also use Dataflow to create a real-time streaming pipeline.

What other advice do I have?

Those who want to implement their workload in Kubernetes can create it. It's automatically scalable. So you don't have to maintain your service. It will be automatically adjusted based on your workload and needs.

The other thing is, when you are using microservice kind of development, like, now it is the programming language for microservices. So when we use microservices, it can be easily managed using Kubernetes. It makes it easy to find an error because the solution is really helpful. 

And if microservices, the whole application won't fail. Just the deployment notes, that may cause an error in our application. That's the only failure. The whole application won't fail. So it would be helpful. You have to use a microservice kind of development in your development environment and try to implement it as a container and delete the container workloads in Kubernetes. Using deployment or domain service, and our project will be automatically maintained.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Packaged App development Senior Analyst at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Mar 19, 2024
A stable solution to deploy microservices with ease of use
Pros and Cons
  • "It is easy to use and deploy."
  • "The product could be cheaper."

What is our primary use case?

We used to deploy microservices on the Java platform. It took a lot of work to manage these skill sets. With Kubernetes, it is easy to use and deploy. It was very convenient, mostly for scalability purposes.

What needs improvement?

The product could be cheaper.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Google Kubernetes Engine for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We started with 20 people who were migrating. Later, we migrated to other teams.

How was the initial setup?

In the initial stage, It'll depend on our understanding level and how we've undergone training because we have a dedicated Engine. We were more inclined to learn something new. It is easy to use.

Google Kubernetes Engine integrates with your existing CI/CD pipelines. It's quite straightforward. Someone knowledgeable in DevOps helped develop a script for us. This script facilitated the integration of both pipelines with Kubernetes and streamlined the process for us.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution was pricey. If you have options, consider OpenShift as another platform that does the same.

What other advice do I have?

We had a training session where they covered the features of Google Kubernetes Engine, allowing us to become familiar with all the commands that can be used in Kubernetes.

You won't need to have its feature to encrypt the data. Instead, a config map and secret feature are available. There's ample data recovery capability, particularly during operations like saving and performing other tasks. It's pretty impressive.

Google Kubernetes Engine provides certain features for free, especially for self-learning purposes. We install it on my local machine and deploy applications without incurring costs.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight or nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2313954 - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal Enterprise Architect at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
Real User
Dec 7, 2023
A tool that offers resilience and high availability but needs to improve its stability
Pros and Cons
  • "On the tip of a command, you can scale in or scale out, and it offers every robust platform to implement DevOps processes for your automation solutions. The product fully supports the IaC concept."
  • "The product's stability is an area of concern where improvements are required."

What is our primary use case?

I have deployed the solution as a service into my private cloud, as well as into Azure infrastructure.

Google Kubernetes Engine is useful for cloud-native business applications, especially microservices-based architectures since business applications require scalability and resilience and must be highly available. Typically, Google Kubernetes Engine is used to deploy business applications and also to manage the integrations with the cloud services. There are a lot of SaaS solutions as service offerings provided by the Google Cloud Platform, so it helps with the integration to compile the solutions in the business space or, basically, the cloud-native space.

What is most valuable?

Google is the founder of Kubernetes. Google invented Kubernetes platform, and then later on, at some point in time, they had open-source scripts. Since Google started offering open-source scripts, a lot of other players in the market have adopted the same strategy for their products. Google Kubernetes Engine made a late entry into the market, but the good part that I like about it is that you have a seamless way of creating highly scalable and highly available solutions with it. On the tip of a command, you can scale in or scale out, and it offers every robust platform to implement DevOps processes for your automation solutions. The product fully supports the IaC concept.

What needs improvement?

The product's stability is an area of concern where improvements are required. Google Kubernetes Engine needs to mature more to be able to offer more stability compared to its competitors like Amazon and Microsoft, which have allowed for aggressive growth due to the area covered in terms of offering the complimentary services offered around Kubernetes. Google is behind even though it offers a robust platform. Google needs to offer more intensive services to fulfill the needs of customers and serve as a one-box or one-stop solution that covers everything enterprises need. Google needs to evolve more in terms of the richness of the services offered.

For how long have I used the solution?

I haven't worked full-fledged with Google Kubernetes Engine. since I have used it from an experimentation perspective. It is mainly Kubernetes that I have worked for for more than three years. Google Kubernetes is basically a managed service, but Kubernetes 1.24 is what I have extensively used.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a six to seven out of ten.

My company's clients who use the solution are enterprise-sized businesses.

How are customer service and support?

I have no experience with the solution's technical support because I have not done any production-related work revolving around Google Kubernetes Engine. I believe that Google provides better technical support, but I don't have the relevant background to speak about it.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the product's initial setup phase a five or six on a scale of one to ten, where one is a difficult setup phase, and ten is an easy setup phase.

The concept revolving around Kubernetes is inherently complex when it comes to its setup phase. Kubernetes is not an easy domain to design and operate. The adoption of Kubernetes from a production perspective can be a bit of a complex task, not only for Google but for every other vendor in the world. The complexity is not much for a person who understands Kubernetes. With Google, considering its lack of maturity compared to the competitors, I will say the complexity during the setup phase may be a bit higher, based on which I rate the setup phase a six out of ten.

The solution is deployed on a public cloud by Google.

The solution can be deployed in a week since the major effort is in building the application, and getting the application to the production stage takes at least a week or so.

What was our ROI?

From an ROI perspective, the tool should be better, but since I have not done any production-grade application deployment on Google Kubernetes Engine, I won't be able to comment on the product's ROI part. As per my understanding, the overall Kubernetes ecosystem ensures a high ROI because it promotes the ability of a business, and that's what the platform is all about.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product's price a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price. The product is competitively priced.

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Google
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Deployer
PeerSpot user
Ade Fajar Pamungkas - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior System Analyst at Evello System
Real User
Top 20
Jun 8, 2023
A stable and flexible product with auto-scaling features
Pros and Cons
  • "I am impressed with the product's output scaling."
  • "I would like the solution to integrate with another Kubernetes product. I would also like it to monitor other platforms. It needs to also include scale-up container in the tool's next release."

What is most valuable?

I am impressed with the product's auto-scaling. 

What needs improvement?

I would like the solution to integrate with another Kubernetes product. I would also like it to monitor other platforms. It needs to also include scale-up container in the tool's next release. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for four years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the solution's stability a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the product's scalability a seven out of ten. It can scale up automatically. My company has 5 users for the solution. 

How are customer service and support?

We rely on technical support from USA or India since it is not available in the local area. It is very difficult to get support. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used VMware's virtual machine before. We switched to the product since it offered flexibility and the ability to auto-scale. 

How was the initial setup?

The product's setup is easy and I would rate it an eight out of ten. The deployment got completed in three hours. We relied on a DevOps engineer to complete the deployment and maintenance. 

What about the implementation team?

We did the solution's deployment in-house. 

What was our ROI?

The solution is worth its money.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten. The tool costs around 3000 dollars per month. There are no additional costs apart from these.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the product an eight out of ten. 

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Google
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Patryk Golabek - PeerSpot reviewer
CTO at Translucent Computing Inc
Real User
Jan 29, 2023
Fully Google ecosystem integrated, saves valuable time, and rapid deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "The main advantage of GKE is that it is a managed service. This means that Google is responsible for managing the master node in the Kubernetes cluster system. As a result, we can focus on deploying applications to the slaves, while Google handles any updates and security patches. The fact that GKE is fully integrated into the Google ecosystem, including solutions such as BigQuery and VertexAI. This makes it easier for us to integrate these tools into our process. This integration ultimately speeds up our time to market and reduces the time and effort spent on managing infrastructure. The managed aspect of GKE allows us to simply deploy and utilize it without having to worry about the technicalities of infrastructure management."
  • "While the GKE cluster is secure, application-level security is an essential aspect that needs to be addressed. The security provided by GKE includes the security of communication between nodes within the cluster and the basic features of Kubernetes security. However, these features may not be sufficient for the security needs of an enterprise. Additional security measures must be added to ensure adequate protection. It has become a common practice to deploy security tools within a Kubernetes cluster. It would be ideal if these tools were included as part of the package, as this is a standard requirement in the industry. Thus, application-level security should be integrated into GKE for improved security measures."

What is our primary use case?

The primary purpose for utilizing Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is for application deployment. This managed cloud service eliminates the need for operating our own Kubernetes cluster. Our applications are designed in a microservice architecture, meaning they are comprised of numerous smaller components, each running on its own container. GKE acts as an orchestration engine for these containers, managing and organizing them. In essence, GKE serves as a platform for both application development and deployment within a Kubernetes cluster. This is our main use case for GKE.

In addition to deploying applications, we also utilize GKE for deploying our machine learning models. By containerizing these models, we are able to deploy them within the Kubernetes cluster, making it easier for our applications to communicate with them. As the application and the model are co-located within GKE, it is simpler for us to manage this process and make predictions in a timely manner. This is an advantageous use case for us.

Machine learning is not a use case that we utilize GKE. Instead, we have our own platform in place to deal with GKE. Although GKE is an open engine, it still requires compliance, security, and observability. Thus, we provide these elements to our clients. This includes observability through the collection of metrics and logs from all containers within GKE, which we aggregate and display through dashboards and dashboarding tools. Additionally, we have built our own security system within GKE, which includes hosting security tools to manage passwords, secrets, and certificates. These tools are also deployed within GKE.

In addition to application deployment, our continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline are housed within GKE. Our pipeline includes tools, such as Jenkins and Slack, which aid in the building, containerization, and deployment of software. This comprehensive pipeline within GKE streamlines the development process and allows for the efficient and effective release of our software. Currently, GKE serves all of our use cases related to software development and deployment.

How has it helped my organization?

In our organization, GKE is utilized to orchestrate containers that hold microservices, which combine to form an application. Furthermore, we also utilize GKE to host self-hosted databases and build our own data pipelines. As a result, GKE acts as the foundation for our data platform, supporting multiple different types of databases within the cluster. The solution has been helpful for our organization.

What is most valuable?

The main advantage of GKE is that it is a managed service. This means that Google is responsible for managing the master node in the Kubernetes cluster system. As a result, we can focus on deploying applications to the slaves, while Google handles any updates and security patches. The fact that GKE is fully integrated into the Google ecosystem, including solutions such as BigQuery and VertexAI. This makes it easier for us to integrate these tools into our process. This integration ultimately speeds up our time to market and reduces the time and effort spent on managing infrastructure. The managed aspect of GKE allows us to simply deploy and utilize it without having to worry about the technicalities of infrastructure management. 

Recently, Google has introduced new features to GKE. One of the latest additions includes a managed backup service, which backs up the disks attached to the containers within the platform. This service is a valuable asset provided by Google. Furthermore, they also offer configuration management, providing all the necessary infrastructure and services to accompany the use of Kubernetes. This saves time and reduces the effort needed to manage the cluster, allowing for a more focused approach toward business-critical tasks, such as containers, building pipelines, and more. GKE provides the necessary support and resources to allow for rapid deployment and efficient management.

What needs improvement?

While the GKE cluster is secure, application-level security is an essential aspect that needs to be addressed. The security provided by GKE includes the security of communication between nodes within the cluster and the basic features of Kubernetes security. However, these features may not be sufficient for the security needs of an enterprise. Additional security measures must be added to ensure adequate protection. It has become a common practice to deploy security tools within a Kubernetes cluster. It would be ideal if these tools were included as part of the package, as this is a standard requirement in the industry. Thus, application-level security should be integrated into GKE for improved security measures.

Additionally, a crucial aspect that was previously lacking was a reliable backup system. Although Google has recently released a beta version of GKE backups, it still requires improvement. Within a cluster, many components, such as databases, have a state and a disk attached to them. Hence, it is essential to have both physical snapshots of the disk and logical backups of the data. However, the backup system offered by GKE is not yet fully developed and requires more work to become a robust enterprise feature. For enterprise applications, it is imperative to manage state and take regular backups due to the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) signed with clients, which often require multiple backups per day. Thus, further development and improvement of the backup system are necessary.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Google Kubernetes Engine for approximately six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

GKE is extremely stable, with very few issues related to stability. This is due to frequent and continuous updates to the system. In the world of Kubernetes, it is common to maintain one version behind and two versions ahead, allowing for a clear understanding of upcoming releases and the ability to subscribe to the latest versions. Google is always at the forefront of updates and releases, and users have the option to either use the latest and most cutting-edge versions or stick with the stable and tried-and-true versions. There are no problems or concerns with stability in GKE.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

GKE was designed with scalability as its core feature, offering both flexibility and scalability in its functionality. It is easily adaptable for scaling both horizontally and vertically, making it ideal for our machine-learning tasks as well. The ability to attach a GPU to a node in the Kubernetes cluster is a straightforward process, providing us with the option to deploy a Kubernetes cluster with or without video cards, based on our specific use case requirements. The horizontal scalability of GKE is instantaneous, as the solution was specifically engineered to excel in this aspect. The scalability of GKE is one of its most valuable features, making it a prime selling point.

How are customer service and support?

Regarding support from GKE, I have limited knowledge. Our team is highly skilled in the field and would not require support from Google. In fact, I have communicated to Google that we do not require certification from them, as we are already Kubernetes certified and feel no need to be Google certified. I believe there is no return on investment for us in obtaining this certification. Despite Google's efforts to encourage us, we have informed them that they should focus on getting certified themselves rather than having us certified. Our team has a vast amount of experience and knowledge in the field, having been involved in the beta project even before Google knew the ins and outs of the technology. Therefore, we are capable of resolving any issues that arise on our own, without the need for assistance from Google.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

This solution is better than Amazon and Azure.

How was the initial setup?

Deploying GKE is a swift and seamless process, accomplished by running scripts. Our approach to infrastructure is based on the principle of infrastructure as code, utilizing Terraform for all operations. Google offers Terraform integration, further simplifying the process. Instead of manual intervention through the console or script writing, we choose to automate every aspect of our deployment, including GKE deployment, through Terraform. The cloud engineering provided by Google encompasses all the necessary tools to rapidly deploy and manage GKE, freeing us from the tedious task of managing individual components of the cluster.

Getting started with GKE is relatively simple, but ensuring proper deployment can be challenging. The ease of use, with just a click of the mouse button, does not guarantee secure and compliant deployment. Google should do more to educate users on the proper way to deploy GKE and provide resources such as recipes or integrate these best practices into the standard offering. For example, making the GKE public should be avoided as it poses a security risk, as each node in the cluster is publicly facing the internet, making it vulnerable to attacks by hackers who could target any of the nodes and potentially access a piece of the application and data.

The requirement of a private deployment in GKE comes with the need for extra configuration and networking setup, which can pose a challenge for developers and companies who are not familiar with the process. Although Google provides guidance and best practices, it is still necessary to have a good understanding of network engineering in order to successfully deploy Kubernetes. The complexity of the process can result in incorrect or insecure versions of Kubernetes being deployed, as seen with the recent hack on Tesla's GKE due to their improper deployment. Ideally, these configurations and setup steps should be integrated into the solution itself, eliminating the need for excessive technical expertise.

I rate the setup of Google Kubernetes Engine a seven out of ten.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing for GKE is dependent on the type of machine or virtual machine (VM) that is selected for the nodes in the cluster. There is a degree of flexibility in choosing the specifications of the machine, such as the number of CPUs, GPUs, and so on. Google provides a variety of options, allowing the user to create the desired cluster composition. However, the cost can be quite steep when it comes to regional clusters, which are necessary for high availability and failover. This redundancy is crucial for businesses and is required to handle an increase in requests in case of any issues in one region, such as jumping to a different region in case of a failure in the Toronto region. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest type of machines, this may result in a limited capacity and user numbers, requiring over-provisioning to handle additional requests, such as those for a web application.

The cost of using GKE, which includes having a redundant system and failover capacity, appears to be overly high. The requirement of having this extra capacity in case of disk failure or other issues means paying for the extra provision, which contributes to the elevated cost. This pricing model seems to be an unfair practice on Google's part as redundancy is a fundamental aspect of any business and must be paid for regardless of whether it is used or not. When it comes to general pricing, the choice of what is best for the specific use case is left to the user.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Google Kubernetes Engine an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Updated: June 2026
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Google Kubernetes Engine Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.