Now equipped with the right support, the team can get down to work in refining their platform for aspiring writers and eager readers. Using an infrastructure that is based on a custom virtual machine designed for optimal usage, traffic is managed efficiently using a global load balancer, and users can enjoy low-latency global access through the optimal content delivery network.

With Compute Engine, Pencil’s use of custom virtual machines provides flexibility that caters to different use cases and sizing, reducing any wastage of resources with the auto-scaling function. At the same time, Cloud CDN helps to cache content closer to users, with Cloud Storage doing its part as a cost-effective way to deliver static files instead of relying on servers. 

With five times more traffic after migration, the use of Cloud Load Balancing ensures that traffic is spread across servers, preventing the occurrence of overloading and possible downtime. In moments of spikes, the platform is capable of automatically adding capacity when needed while keeping content delivery fast no matter where the user is located.

Security is also a paramount concern for Pencil, with both internal and external concerns being addressed by Google Cloud solutions. Cloud Armor helps to protect the ecosystem against external attacks and blocking of harmful traffic, with firewall rules preventing any unauthorized users. Within the team itself, Identity and Access Management (IAM) verifies and grants access to sensitive systems and data to the right personnel, further enhancing security.

This new way of running the business is supported by the use of Google Cloud observability features, where stakeholders can obtain real-time insights with logs, alerts, and constant monitoring. Any issues can be swiftly spotted and rectified, keeping things running smoothly for the users. 

“With the highly collaborative and solution-driven partnership, we have achieved a 30% reduction in overall expenses and seen a fivefold increase in traffic. The improved system stability, scalability, and operational efficiency have also benefitted us greatly for now and the future,” says Nanda.

The results of working with Google Cloud have given the Pencil team more confidence to look to the future, especially with generative AI solutions that can be integrated to help its users.

 As the platform expands and brings in more interested creators and readers, the pressure is on to offer even more value for both sets of audiences. Improving content creation will see the exploration of AI tools, such as audio generation for audiobooks or translation, and for areas like proofreading and grammar checks. It is likely that content discovery is also an area in which assistive tools can be integrated, with the team well-placed to push further on. 

“Our experience thus far with Google Cloud has been remarkable, and with the possibilities of AI and the ever-improving tools, we are looking forward to more in the future,” concludes Nanda.