Shared VPC is a powerful networking feature in Google Cloud Platform that allows organizations to connect resources from multiple projects to a common Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network. This enables centralized network administration while maintaining project-level separation for billing, access …Shared VPC is a powerful networking feature in Google Cloud Platform that allows organizations to connect resources from multiple projects to a common Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network. This enables centralized network administration while maintaining project-level separation for billing, access control, and resource management.
In a Shared VPC configuration, there are two types of projects: the host project and service projects. The host project contains the shared VPC network, including subnets, firewall rules, routes, and VPN connections. Service projects are attached to the host project and can use the shared network resources.
Key benefits of Shared VPC include:
1. **Centralized Network Management**: Network administrators can manage IP addressing, firewall rules, and routing from a single location, ensuring consistent security policies across the organization.
2. **Resource Isolation**: While sharing the network, each service project maintains its own resources, IAM policies, and billing, providing clear separation of concerns.
3. **Efficient IP Address Utilization**: Organizations can avoid IP address exhaustion by sharing subnets across projects rather than creating separate VPC networks for each project.
4. **Simplified Connectivity**: Resources in different projects can communicate using internal IP addresses as if they were in the same project.
To implement Shared VPC, you need appropriate IAM roles. The Shared VPC Admin role enables designating host projects and attaching service projects. Service Project Admins can then deploy resources in specific subnets.
Common use cases include separating development, staging, and production workloads while maintaining network connectivity, or allowing different departments to manage their own projects while sharing common network infrastructure.
When planning a Shared VPC implementation, consider subnet design, IAM permissions, and how firewall rules will apply across projects. This approach is particularly valuable for enterprises requiring strong network governance while supporting distributed team structures.
Shared VPC: Complete Guide for GCP Associate Cloud Engineer Exam
What is Shared VPC?
Shared VPC is a Google Cloud networking feature that allows an organization to connect resources from multiple projects to a common Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network. This enables centralized network administration while maintaining project-level separation for billing, access control, and resource management.
Why is Shared VPC Important?
Shared VPC addresses several critical enterprise needs:
• Centralized Network Management: Network administrators can manage network resources, subnets, routes, and firewall rules from a single host project • Security and Compliance: Ensures consistent network policies across the organization • Resource Isolation: Teams can manage their own compute resources in service projects while sharing network infrastructure • IP Address Management: Prevents IP address conflicts and enables efficient IP allocation across projects • Cost Optimization: Reduces the need for multiple VPN connections or interconnects by sharing network infrastructure
How Shared VPC Works
Key Components:
1. Host Project: The project that contains the Shared VPC network. This is where subnets, firewall rules, and routes are defined. Only one host project can exist per Shared VPC.
2. Service Projects: Projects that are attached to the host project. Resources in service projects can use subnets from the Shared VPC network.
3. Shared VPC Admin: An IAM role (Compute Shared VPC Admin) assigned at the organization or folder level that grants the ability to enable host projects and attach service projects.
4. Service Project Admin: Users who can create resources in service projects using Shared VPC subnets.
Setup Process:
1. A Shared VPC Admin enables a project as a host project 2. The admin attaches one or more service projects to the host project 3. Network Admin creates subnets in the host project 4. Service Project Admins are granted permission to use specific subnets 5. Users in service projects create resources (VMs, GKE clusters) using the shared subnets
IAM Roles for Shared VPC
• Compute Shared VPC Admin: Can enable host projects and attach service projects (assigned at org or folder level) • Compute Network Admin: Manages network resources in the host project • Compute Network User: Allows users in service projects to use subnets from the host project
Common Use Cases
• Large enterprises with multiple teams needing isolated projects but shared networking • Organizations requiring centralized firewall and routing management • Multi-tier applications spanning multiple projects • Environments where network security must be managed by a dedicated team
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Shared VPC
Key Facts to Remember:
• Shared VPC operates within a single organization • A project can only be a host project OR a service project, not both • Service projects can only be attached to one host project at a time • Firewall rules are defined in the host project and apply to all attached service projects • The Compute Shared VPC Admin role must be granted at the organization or folder level, not the project level
Common Exam Scenarios:
• When asked about centralizing network administration across projects, Shared VPC is typically the answer • Questions about separating duties between network admins and application teams point to Shared VPC • If a scenario mentions multiple projects needing to communicate using internal IPs, consider Shared VPC • For questions about consistent firewall policies across projects, Shared VPC provides this capability
Distinguish from VPC Peering:
• Shared VPC: Centralized administration, resources share the same VPC • VPC Peering: Connects two separate VPCs, each maintains its own administration
Watch for These Keywords in Questions:
• Centralized network management • Multiple projects, single network • Separation of network and compute responsibilities • Organization-wide network policies • Internal IP communication across projects