The Google Cloud Architecture Framework provides recommendations and describes best practices to help architects, developers, administrators, and other cloud practitioners design and operate a cloud topology that's secure, efficient, resilient, high-performing, and cost-effective.
A cross-functional team of experts at Google validates the design recommendations and best practices that make up the Architecture Framework. The team curates the Architecture Framework to reflect the expanding capabilities of Google Cloud, industry best practices, community knowledge, and feedback from you. For a summary of the significant changes, see What's new.
The design guidance in the Architecture Framework applies to applications built for the cloud and for workloads migrated from on-premises to Google Cloud, hybrid cloud deployments, and multi-cloud environments.
The Google Cloud Architecture Framework is organized into six categories (also known as pillars), as shown in the following diagram:
- System design
- This category is the foundation of the Google Cloud Architecture Framework. Define the architecture, components, modules, interfaces, and data needed to satisfy cloud system requirements, and learn about Google Cloud products and features that support system design.
- Operational excellence
- Efficiently deploy, operate, monitor, and manage your cloud workloads.
- Security, privacy, and compliance
- Maximize the security of your data and workloads in the cloud, design for privacy, and align with regulatory requirements and standards.
- Reliability
- Design and operate resilient and highly available workloads in the cloud.
- Cost optimization
- Maximize the business value of your investment in Google Cloud.
- Performance optimization
- Design and tune your cloud resources for optimal performance.
If you have any questions or need help, join our open discussion forums and get expert recommendations in the Architecture Framework space of the Google Cloud Community. The community space also has a series of articles with questions and practical guidance to help you address any challenges around designing and operating your cloud architecture.
To view summaries of Google Cloud products and how they relate to one another, see Google Cloud products, features, and services in four words or less.