Ultimate Google Professional Cloud Architect Certification Guide

Architect Google Cloud Solutions That Go Beyond Certification

Key Features
● Master core GCP services, including Compute, Storage, and Networking.
● Apply GCP design patterns to real-world enterprise architecture.
● Prepare with exam-focused guidance, diagrams, and case scenarios.

Book Description
In today’s cloud-first world, the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect certification stands as one of the most respected credentials in enterprise IT. Ultimate Google Professional Cloud Architect Certification Guide  is your companion to achieving that goal.

This book goes far beyond exam preparation. It is a hands-on, real-world companion that walks you through every architectural decision-making point you will face on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You will begin with the building blocks, such as Compute Engine, Autoscaling, Load Balancing, and Storage. From there, you will navigate through advanced networking, managed services like App Engine, and orchestration, using Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).

As the chapters progress, you will unlock the power of serverless architectures with Cloud Functions and Cloud Run, explore asynchronous communication via Pub/Sub and Dataflow, and dive into Google Cloud’s relational, NoSQL, and caching databases. Crucial topics like IAM, billing, resource hierarchy, and network peering are thoroughly covered to prepare you for enterprise-grade deployments. You will also master observability with Cloud Operations Suite and apply DevOps, CI/CD, and SRE principles in practical, deployment-ready scenarios.

Hence, whether you are an engineer looking to level up or an architect leading transformation initiatives, this book equips you with the knowledge, context, and confidence to succeed—not just in the exam, but in the real world of cloud architecture.

So, get skilled, get certified, and start architecting the future on Google Cloud!

What you will learn
● Design scalable infrastructure with Compute Engine and Load Balancing.
● Architect secure networks, using VPCs, IAM, and Shared VPC.
● Implement serverless and containerized apps with Cloud Run and GKE.
● Leverage Google Cloud’s asynchronous tools such as Pub/Sub and Dataflow.
● Choose and integrate relational, NoSQL, and caching databases.
● Apply DevOps, SRE, and CI/CD practices, using Cloud Operations tools.

Who is this book for?

This book is designed for cloud engineers, solution architects, DevOps professionals, and IT leaders aiming to master Google Cloud Platform for enterprise-scale solutions. It is especially valuable for those preparing for the Google Professional Cloud Architect (PCA) certification, as well as practitioners seeking to apply GCP services in real-world environments with confidence and clarity.

1. GCP Compute Engine
2. Autoscaling and Load Balancing
3. GCP Storage Infrastructure (Block, File, and Object)
4. GCP Networking
5. Introduction to Managed Services on GCP and App Engine
6. Google Kubernetes Engine
7. Serverless Google Run Functions and Google Cloud Run
8. Introduction to Asynchronous Communication in GCP
9. Databases in GCP Overview
10. Relational, NoSQL, and Caching Databases
11. Authentication with Google Cloud IAM
12. Exploring IAM, Project Organization, and Encryption
13. Exploring Data Warehousing and Data Lifecycle on GCP
14. Google Cloud Operations Suite
15. Agile, DevOps, SRE, SDLC, and Other Important GCP Topics
Index

Shounak Acharya is a seasoned Cloud Architect and Engineering Leader with over 16 years of transformative experience spanning the entire spectrum of IT infrastructure—from legacy data centers to modern cloud-native platforms. His journey is a testament to deep-rooted expertise, innovative thinking, and a passionate drive to scale digital systems that touch billions!.

Shounak played a pivotal role in architecting India’s most mission-critical citizen platforms. At the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), he led the modernization of AADHAAR’s private cloud infrastructure — enhancing efficiency, scalability, and operational robustness for the world’s largest biometric identity program. His contributions to Aarogya Setu, India’s COVID-19 contact tracing app, were equally instrumental. As Chief Architect (Cloud), he spearheaded its migration and scalability on the cloud, helping the app expand its reach to over 150 million users at the peak of the pandemic.

With hands-on experience across AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and OpenStack, Shounak has led multiple large-scale modernization projects, developed high-performance government applications, and optimized infrastructure, using containers, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and service mesh technologies. He has served in key roles at Google, AWS, HPE, and MongoDB, enabling digital transformation for enterprises and public-sector organizations across India and globally.

About the Technical Reviewer

Gaurav Srivastava is a highly experienced and business-savvy technocommercial leader with over 18 years of expertise in technology and business development. He possesses extensive skills in complex orchestration, solution advocacy, competitor analysis, and strategy formulation—spanning two major cloud platforms: Microsoft and Google.

He holds several Microsoft certifications, including the prestigious “Microsoft Certified Trainer” designation, as well as other cloud and data-related credentials from Microsoft. Gaurav is also a Google-certified Cloud Architect and Data Engineer.

Gaurav has deep expertise in both Microsoft Azure and GCP. He has a proven ability to guide and mentor technical teams, driving successful cloud adoption, project implementation, and knowledge transfer. Additionally, he is adept at troubleshooting complex technical issues, identifying root causes, and implementing effective solutions. His skills also include performance tuning and optimization of cloud-based applications. Gaurav has led cloud adoption initiatives across various government entities, helping improve citizen service delivery while optimizing IT costs and accelerating services. His significant projects include the transformation of state data centers, advancements in agriculture through cloud technologies, smart metering initiatives, and the application of cloud in finance for different use cases.