Cloud VPN is a Google Cloud networking service that enables secure connectivity between your on-premises network and your Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network through an IPsec VPN connection over the public internet.
Key Components:
1. **VPN Gateway**: A regional resource that represe…Cloud VPN is a Google Cloud networking service that enables secure connectivity between your on-premises network and your Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network through an IPsec VPN connection over the public internet.
Key Components:
1. **VPN Gateway**: A regional resource that represents the Google Cloud side of the VPN connection. It has external IP addresses that your on-premises VPN device connects to.
2. **VPN Tunnel**: The encrypted pathway through which traffic flows between your on-premises network and GCP. Each tunnel uses either IKEv1 or IKEv2 protocol for key exchange.
3. **Cloud Router**: When using dynamic routing, Cloud Router uses BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to automatically exchange route information between networks.
**Types of Cloud VPN:**
- **Classic VPN**: Supports up to 3 Gbps per tunnel with static or dynamic routing. Being deprecated for new deployments.
- **HA VPN (High Availability VPN)**: Provides 99.99% SLA when configured properly with two tunnels. Supports up to 3 Gbps per tunnel and requires dynamic routing with Cloud Router.
**Use Cases:**
- Extending on-premises data centers to the cloud
- Hybrid cloud architectures
- Secure data transfer between locations
- Development and testing environments
**Key Considerations:**
- Bandwidth is limited compared to Cloud Interconnect
- Traffic traverses the public internet (encrypted)
- Latency varies based on internet conditions
- Cost-effective for moderate bandwidth requirements
- MTU considerations for packet sizing
**Best Practices:**
- Use HA VPN for production workloads
- Configure redundant tunnels for high availability
- Implement proper firewall rules
- Monitor tunnel status and throughput
- Use Cloud Router for dynamic route updates
Cloud VPN is ideal for organizations needing secure, encrypted connectivity to GCP with moderate bandwidth needs and flexibility in deployment.
Cloud VPN is a Google Cloud service that securely connects your on-premises network to your Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network through an IPsec VPN connection. The traffic traveling between the two networks is encrypted by one VPN gateway and then decrypted by the other VPN gateway, protecting your data as it travels over the public internet.
Why is Cloud VPN Important?
Cloud VPN is essential for several reasons:
• Hybrid Cloud Connectivity: Enables seamless integration between on-premises infrastructure and Google Cloud resources • Security: Provides encrypted communication channels for sensitive data transmission • Cost-Effective: Offers a lower-cost alternative to dedicated interconnect solutions for moderate bandwidth needs • Quick Deployment: Can be set up relatively quickly compared to physical interconnect options • Redundancy: Supports high availability configurations for reliable connectivity
How Cloud VPN Works
Cloud VPN operates using the following components and processes:
1. VPN Gateway Types: • HA VPN (High Availability VPN): Provides 99.99% SLA when configured with two tunnels. Uses two interfaces and two external IP addresses. • Classic VPN: Provides 99.9% SLA with a single interface and single external IP address. Being deprecated for new deployments.
2. Key Components: • Cloud VPN Gateway: A regional resource with external IP addresses • Peer VPN Gateway: The on-premises or third-party VPN gateway • VPN Tunnels: The encrypted connections between gateways • Cloud Router: Required for dynamic routing using BGP
3. Routing Options: • Dynamic Routing (BGP): Recommended approach using Cloud Router for automatic route updates • Static Routing: Manual configuration of routes (only available with Classic VPN)
4. Bandwidth: Each tunnel supports up to 3 Gbps for traffic. Multiple tunnels can be configured for higher aggregate throughput using ECMP (Equal-Cost Multi-Path) routing.
Configuration Requirements:
• Matching IKE version on both sides (IKEv1 or IKEv2) • Compatible cipher suites and authentication methods • Shared secret (pre-shared key) known to both gateways • Properly configured firewall rules • Non-overlapping IP address ranges between networks
HA VPN Topologies:
• Gateway to Gateway: Two HA VPN gateways in different regions or projects • Gateway to Peer Gateway: HA VPN gateway to on-premises VPN device • Gateway to AWS Virtual Private Gateway: Connection to AWS VPC
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Cloud VPN
1. Know the SLA Differences: • HA VPN with proper configuration = 99.99% SLA • Classic VPN = 99.9% SLA • Questions about high availability should point you toward HA VPN
2. Understand When to Use Cloud VPN vs Alternatives: • Cloud VPN: Good for encrypted connections up to 3 Gbps per tunnel, cost-sensitive scenarios • Dedicated Interconnect: For 10 Gbps or higher bandwidth needs, not encrypted by default • Partner Interconnect: When you cannot reach a Google colocation facility
3. Remember BGP and Cloud Router: • HA VPN requires dynamic routing with Cloud Router • BGP enables automatic failover and route propagation • Questions mentioning automatic route updates typically involve Cloud Router
4. Key Configuration Details: • HA VPN needs two tunnels from each gateway for full SLA coverage • Both sides must use matching encryption settings • IP ranges must not overlap between connected networks
5. Common Exam Scenarios: • Connecting on-premises data centers to GCP securely • Setting up disaster recovery with encrypted connections • Choosing between VPN types based on bandwidth and availability requirements • Troubleshooting connectivity issues (check IKE versions, shared secrets, firewall rules)
6. Watch for Keywords: • Encrypted tunnel over internet = Cloud VPN • 99.99% availability = HA VPN with proper tunnel configuration • Dynamic routing = Cloud Router with BGP • Hybrid connectivity with moderate bandwidth = Cloud VPN is often the answer
7. Remember Limitations: • Maximum 3 Gbps per tunnel • Classic VPN does not support IPv6 • Cloud VPN uses the public internet (latency may vary)