Introduction
Is your business spending too much on cloud infrastructure? You’re not alone. Many enterprises use AWS or Azure. They are now switching to Google Cloud Platform (GCP). These companies are saving 20–30% on their cloud consumption costs in the process.
In this post, we’ll explore how GCP delivers these savings. We will understand what makes it different. You will also learn how you can plan a smooth and cost-effective migration.
Why Migrate to Google Cloud?
While AWS and Azure offer robust services, GCP brings several cost-saving advantages to the table. Here’s how:
1. Sustained Use Discounts (SUDs)
Google Cloud offers automatic discounts for workloads that run consistently each month. Unlike AWS or Azure, there’s no need to reserve capacity upfront—making savings easy and immediate.
2. Committed Use Discounts (CUDs)
For predictable workloads, GCP’s CUDs offer up to 57% savings. GCP’s commitments are more flexible than AWS RIs, allowing usage across different VM types and regions.
3. Custom VM Configurations
GCP offers a better approach than overprovisioning with standard instance sizes. It lets you create custom VMs with the exact CPU and memory specs you need. This saves 15–25% per VM.
4. Preemptible (Spot) VMs & Autoscaling
Take advantage of Spot VMs for temporary workloads like testing or batch processing at up to 80% lower cost. Combine that with GCP’s autoscaling for even greater efficiency.
5. Lower Network Egress Costs
GCP typically offers more affordable data egress compared to AWS or Azure, especially when using Cloud CDN or Interconnect.
Real-World Savings: GCP vs. AWS/Azure
Here’s a quick comparison of common cloud components and the typical savings when migrating to GCP:
| Component | AWS/Azure | Google Cloud | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute (VMs) | EC2 / Azure VMs | Custom VMs + SUDs/CUDs | 20–30% |
| Storage | EBS / Blob / S3 | GCP Cloud Storage | 10–20% |
| Network Egress | Tiered Pricing | Lower Base Rates | 15–25% |
| Licensing (Windows, SQL) | RI or BYOL | Flexible Licensing + SUD | 10–20% |
Best Workloads to Migrate First
You don’t have to move everything at once. Start with workloads that offer the highest cost-benefit ratio:
- Stateless applications
- Data lakes or warehouses (e.g., Redshift to BigQuery)
- Development and testing environments
- Web apps with high traffic
- Disaster recovery and backup systems
Steps to a Successful Cloud Migration
Here’s a simplified migration path to get you started:
- Assess your current workloads on Azure or AWS.
- Map workloads to equivalent (or better) GCP services.
- Run a pilot to test performance and cost metrics.
- Optimize using GCP-native tools like Recommender, SUDs, and billing alerts.
- Monitor continuously with GCP’s cost dashboards and FinOps best practices.
Bonus: GCP’s Built-in Security & Open Architecture
Besides cost savings, GCP offers enterprise-grade security. It also provides built-in compliance tools. There is support for multi-cloud or hybrid deployments using Anthos. This is ideal for businesses seeking long-term agility.
Final Thoughts
Cloud costs can spiral quickly—but they don’t have to. Many companies are moving from AWS or Azure to Google Cloud. They are unlocking 20–30% savings. Additionally, they gain access to a modern and flexible cloud architecture.
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