Storage
Overview
Using data starts with proper storage. GCP offers storage services that let businesses collect, manage, and analyze large datasets efficiently.
- Store massive amounts of data securely
- Access data quickly for analysis
- Scale storage as needs grow
GCP offers storage that grows with the business' needs.
- Petabyte-scale capacity
- Automatic replication across regions
Data is encrypted and backed up across locations, so your files and records remain safe and available at all times.
Types of data and storage
Different types of data need different storage solutions.
- Structured data: Organized in tables with rows and columns, like a database
- Unstructured data: Includes images, videos, audio, or raw text, without a fixed format
- Semi-structured data: Partially organized, like JSON, key-value pairs, or trees
Structured data fits in Cloud SQL, unstructured data goes in Cloud Storage, and semi-structured data is ideal for Bigtable. Choosing the right storage ensures speed, flexibility, and scalability.
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is designed for structured data.
- Stores data in tables
- Supports relational queries
- Scales as needed
Cloud SQL keeps structured data organized, accessible, and ready for analysis.
Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage handles unstructured data.
- Stores files like images, videos, or documents
- Scales automatically
- Encrypts data for security
Cloud Storage provides safe, scalable storage for large and varied files, making data easy to manage.
Bigtable
Some data is shaped like a tree. For example, an organization chart starts with the CEO and branches down to all employees.
- Cannot fit well in rows and columns
- Works better with non-relational storage
Bigtable is designed for both relational and non-relational data, including tree-like data.
- Handles massive workloads
- Provides low latency and high throughput
It is well-suited for industries like IoT, finance, advertising, and streaming data, where handling information quickly and at large scale is critical.
