Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers a breadth of services to help businesses scale and innovate. However, the first step to success in the cloud is establishing a well-architected landing zone. This serves as a foundational layer, ensuring governance, security, and efficiency. Setting up a landing zone properly can significantly ease the onboarding of new customers.

Here’s a comprehensive 10-point checklist to guide you through the process.

1. Establish Organizational Hierarchy

Creating a well-defined GCP organizational hierarchy is the bedrock of your landing zone. This includes:

• Organization Node: Centralize the management of resources.
• Folders: Organize projects by department, team, or environment.
• Projects: Isolate and manage resources and permissions at the project level.

Benefits:

• Enhanced resource management and billing clarity.
• Simplified security and policy enforcement.

2. Configure Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Proper IAM configuration ensures that the right people have appropriate access.

• Principle of Least Privilege: Avoid overly permissive roles.
• Groups: Use Google Groups to manage permissions collectively.
• Service Accounts: Isolate software permissions from human users.

Benefits:

• Improved security and auditability.
• Simplified user management.

3. Set Up Hierarchical Policies

Utilize organization policies to enforce governance across your GCP environment.

• Resource Locations: Restrict where new resources can be created.
• Service Restrictions: Control which services can be used.
• VPC-SC (Virtual Private Cloud Service Controls): Define security perimeters.

Benefits:

• Enhanced control over compliance and security.
• Reduced risk of accidental misconfigurations.

4. Implement Billing and Budget Controls

Efficient billing and budget management help prevent overshooting from cost overruns.

• Budgets and Alerts: Set budget limits and receive alerts when nearing thresholds.
• Billing Exports: Regularly review detailed billing data.
• Labels and Tags: Use labels to categorize and manage cost allocation.

Benefits:

• Improved cost visibility and management.
• Easier allocation of costs across teams/projects.

5. Configure Networking with Best Practices

Networking configuration provides the backbone for your application and services communication.

• VPC Design: Establish multiple VPCs for isolation and segmentation.
• Subnets: Organize subnets by region and purpose.
• Firewall Rules: Implement least privilege and default deny rules.
• Private Access: Enable private services access.

Benefits:

• Enhanced network security and performance.
• Flexible and scalable network architecture.

6. Set Up Logging and Monitoring

Comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions are crucial for operational excellence.

• Cloud Logging: Centralize and manage logs.
• Cloud Monitoring: Track system health and performance.
• Alerting: Configure alerts for critical metrics.

Benefits:

• Proactive issue detection and resolution.
• Enhanced operational visibility.

7. Enhance Security with Best Practices

Adopting security best practices fortifies your overall cloud environment.

• Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP): Securely access GCP resources without a VPN.
• Cloud Armor: Protect against DDoS attacks and manage IP blocklists.
• Security Command Center: Centralized visibility and proactive risk management.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive security posture.
• Reduced risk of breaches and vulnerabilities.

8. Establish Hybrid Connectivity

Hybrid connectivity ensures seamless integration between on-premises infrastructure and GCP.

• Cloud VPN: Use Cloud VPN to securely connect your on-premises network to GCP.
• Interconnect: For high-bandwidth, low-latency connections, consider Dedicated Interconnect or Partner Interconnect.
• Network Peering: Use VPC Network Peering for network connectivity between VPCs.

Benefits:

• Enhanced connectivity for hybrid workloads.
• Secure and reliable network connections between environments.

9. Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans

Ensure data resilience and system availability with backup and DR strategies.

• Regular Backups: Use Cloud Storage for backup and archival.

• Disaster Recovery Plans: Implement strategies for failover and recovery.

• Testing: Regularly test your backups and DR plans.

Benefits:

• Minimized data loss and system downtime.

• Assurance of business continuity.

‍

10. Support Packages Available in GCP

Google Cloud offers various support packages to assist you in making the most out of their services.

• Basic Support: Included with every Google Cloud account.

• Role-Based Support: Choose from Development, Production, and Business Critical support tiers to match your specific needs.

• Advanced Support: Receive quick response times, technical account management, and custom training services.

• Premium Support: Comprehensive support offering including 24/7 technical assistance, designated technical account managers, and more.

Benefits:

• Access to expert guidance and best practices.

• Ensures quick resolution of issues, minimizing downtime.

• Tailored support to meet your needs, whether you're a small team or large enterprise.

Conclusion

Setting up a landing zone in GCP is a critical step in building a secure, scalable, and efficient cloud environment. By following these 10 points, organizations can ensure a smooth onboarding process for new customers, enhancing both security and operational efficiency.

At Quadra, we specialize in helping businesses set up robust and compliant cloud environments that align with their unique needs. Our experienced team and innovative solutions ensure that your GCP landing zone is configured for long-term success.

To learn more about how we can assist you in setting up your GCP landing zone, visit Quadra and for detailed case studies and examples, visit Quadra’s Happy Customers.