What is Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)?
Answer
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is Google's managed Kubernetes service and the most mature managed Kubernetes offering, as Google invented Kubernetes. GKE manages the control plane (free for Standard mode) and provides automated upgrades, auto-repair, and logging. Key features: Autopilot mode: fully managed — GKE manages nodes, networking, and security; you only manage pods and pay per pod resource. Standard mode: you manage nodes (VMs). Auto-scaling: Cluster Autoscaler for nodes, HPA for pods. Node pools: different VM types for different workloads. Workload Identity: bind Kubernetes service accounts to Google service accounts for secure GCP API access. Binary Authorization: ensure only signed images are deployed. GKE is often considered the gold standard for managed Kubernetes.