The new GDC offering is an air-gapped appliance that runs Google’s cloud infrastructure stack including Kubernetes clusters, data security services, and Vertex AI platform.
Google has launched an air-gapped version of its Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) hardware for artificial intelligence (AI) Edge computing. The solution will enable enterprises to use cloud infrastructure for AI workloads in challenging environments outside of Google’s data centres.
The new GDC offering is an air-gapped appliance that runs Google‘s cloud infrastructure stack including Kubernetes clusters, data security services, and Vertex AI platform. This means that the Google Cloud offerings can be used when access to the Internet is not possible.
For example, a Defense Department agency could use GDC for translating foreign documents with Google’s language translation, speech-to-text, and optical character recognition software, while not connecting to Google Cloud.
The offering was introduced last year in preview and is now generally available.
The hardware itself isn’t made by Google but comprises products from Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, and powered by Nvidia GPUs.
Sachin Gupta, Google Cloud‘s General Manager for Infrastructure Services said, “We introduced Google Distributed Cloud as our customers looked at our AI innovations, our data services, our security services, but could not use them in the public cloud. [It’s] the cloud in a box that allows you to bring AI anywhere you need it.”
The solution has security clearance for most US Military or Defense Department use cases and has Defense Department Impact Level 5 accreditation for its security features, which include data encryption, data isolation, firewalls, and a secure boot.
“Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance will enable the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) to bring the maintenance digital ecosystem to Airmen in austere and forward deployed locations, supporting the Air Force’s agile objectives while prioritising security and reliability,” said Michael Roquemore, Director of the RSO’s Rapid, Agile, Integrated Capabilities Team.
“By delivering a secure and compliant Edge compute platform, the RSO can leverage already developed Google-based technologies in both connected cloud and disconnected Edge to bring digital innovation to the Service Members wherever they operate.”
There is also a ruggedised version which is built to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration for customers such as oil and gas companies.
Developers can use the appliance’s computing, storage, and networking components as well as the software running on top via the same APIs used in Google Cloud.
The first version of Google’s Distributed Cloud offering was announced in October 2021.
