Does GCP Support Windows?

Google cloud platform is one of the great supporters for Windows which makes it an attractive choice for the organizations. This is how it can be beneficial for the organizations who have invested in Microsoft technologies. As Google Cloud services are built on the Linux infrastructure where the platform offers a complete Windows compatibility across multiple service layers, ensuring smooth integration as well as current enterprise workflows.

Here in this article, we have discussed whether the GCP supports windows or not. So if you are looking to grow your career in this field, then taking the GCP Training can help you understand how GCP supports windows. Then let’s begin by discussing this in detail:

How GCP Supports Windows?

Here we have discussed how the GCP supports Windows in detail. So if you have taken the training for the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect then you can integrate GCP with the windows.

Windows Virtual Machine Support

Google Cloud lets you run Windows operating systems on its servers using something called Compute Engine. This means you can use versions like Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022 on virtual machines (VMs) — basically computers in the cloud.

These Windows VMs work just like Linux ones. You can pick how powerful they are, get discounts if you use them a lot, and even use cheaper ones for short-term tasks.

They come ready to go with the basic tools you need, and you can add more software if you like. You can also choose between a lightweight version (Core) or a full desktop version depending on what you need.

Active Directory Integration

Many of the businesses are using Microsoft Active Directory (AD) that can help manage user accounts as well as permissions. Google Cloud make this easy to get connect with this.

It offers a service called Managed Microsoft AD, which is basically AD in the cloud. It works with your current setup, so you don’t need to start over or make big changes.

This helps your Windows computers on Google Cloud join your domain, follow company policies, and let users log in easily with single sign-on (SSO). It also supports hybrid setups, where part of your system is on-premises and part is in the cloud.

Windows Container Support

If you will use the containers for running your apps, Google Cloud supports Windows containers too. This is not just limited to linux.

Well you can run these containers by using the Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). This will help you manage a huge amount of the apps easily. All of these containers run on special Windows servers. This is separate from the Linux ones.

You can choose the type of base image you need — like Windows Server Core or Nano Server — and safely store your container images in Google’s Container Registry.

Development and DevOps Tools

Developers using Windows can build and deploy apps on Google Cloud with tools they already know.

●     Cloud Build can run builds for Windows apps.

●     Cloud Source Repositories works with tools like Visual Studio.

●     You can use Google Cloud’s CI/CD tools for .NET and other Windows-based development.

Also, PowerShell, a popular tool for Windows admins, works natively on GCP. Google even has its own PowerShell module, so you can manage cloud resources using simple scripts.

After learning the GCP course, you will get Google Cloud Professional Certificate which you can show to your potential employers. This works as a proof of your expertise in this field that adds a credential to your portfolio.

Conclusion

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) makes this easy for you to run the windows based systems as well apps in the cloud. So if you are using classic Windows Servers or building modern Windows apps in containers, GCP has various tools as well as services for the job. This includes computing power, storage, networking, and fully managed solutions.