Cloud Run: demystifying the use of serverless services, with a focus on Google Cloud Platform

In the changing cloud development ecosystem, technical teams are looking for solutions that balance simplicity, scalability and efficiency. This is where Cloud Runthe serverless service of Google Cloud Platform (GCP)has become one of the most valued tools for deploying containerised applications. Designed to make life easier for developers, Cloud Run allows you to run containers in a fully managed wayeliminating the need to configure infrastructure, manage load balancers or worry about manual scaling.

By integrating the best of the serverless and containerised worlds, Cloud Run enables services to be launched with extremely low cost and an affordable learning curve. In addition, its integration with other GCP services such as Cloud Scheduler, Pub/Sub and Secret Manager provides the perfect foundation for building modern, resilient and secure architectures.

With this in mind, we organised a workshop entitled "Decomplicating the Cloud with Cloud Run".where Ramón Abad, instructor of the Master in Cloud Architecture & DevOps ManagementHe led us through an in-depth, hands-on session on how Cloud Run is revolutionising the way we deploy applications in the cloud.

Why talk about Cloud Run?

The main objective of the workshop was to demystifying the use of serverless servicesespecially focused on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)and show how Cloud Run can be a lightweight and efficient alternative to more complex solutions such as Kubernetes. Cloud Run allows you to run Docker containers in a scalable and fully managed way, removing the technical barriers that have traditionally separated developers from production deployment.

Ramón, with years of experience in DevOps and software development, explained how Cloud Run has enabled his team to launch solutions faster and with lower operational cost. His vision was clear: Cloud Run democratises access to professional deployment in the cloud.

Google Cloud Platform and Cloud Run Workshop Key Topics

During the session, the following points were explored:

1. Evolution from on-premise and virtual machine environments to cloud and serverless services.
2. Practical comparison between Kubernetes and Cloud Runcomplexity versus simplicity.
3. How to deploy Docker containers in seconds using commands gcloud.
4. Cloud Run's flexible and free pricing modelincluding 180,000 virtual CPU seconds and 2 million monthly requests at no cost.
5. Implementation of strategies such as Blue-Green Deployment and Canary Deploymentall through simple commands or Terraform.
6. Integration with IC/DC pipelinessuch as Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions.
7. Automated testing and Shift Left practices to improve software quality.

Advantages of Cloud Run for Developers and DevOps Teams

One of the main lessons learned was how to Cloud Run makes life easier for developers by offering:

• Automatic scalability on demand, from zero to hundreds of instances.
• Simplified deploymentwithout the need to manage load balancers, SSL certificates, or complex network configurations.
• Reduced learning curveespecially for those already using Docker.
• Highly competitive economic modelThe prices are so low that even maintaining a 24/7 instance can cost less than a loaf of bread a month.

Furthermore, the fact that progressive deployments (Blue-Green or Canary) can be carried out without the need for an additional platform such as Istio or third-party tools, makes Cloud Run a solution highly recommended for startups, personal projects, and MVPs.

Cloud Run and Google Cloud Platform: a powerful duo

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is positioning itself as one of the most complete cloud platforms, and Cloud Run is a key part of its serverless ecosystem. Its integration with other services such as Cloud Scheduler, Pub/Sub and Secret Manager allows modern, resilient and secure architectures to be built without leaving the GCP environment.

This makes Cloud Run an ideal choice for both microservices-based architectures and mobile and web application backends. During the workshop, it was also demonstrated how to orchestrate automated deployments using TerraformThis facilitates the management of infrastructure as code.

Use cases and real examples

Ramón presented several scenarios where Cloud Run has proven its effectiveness:

• Web applications that handle millions of requests per month at costs of less than 5 euros.
• Mobile application backend services with instant auto-scaling.
• Automated testing in pipelines using replicable containers both on-premise and in production.

It was also discussed how to use Cloud Run as a backend for scheduled tasks (batch) and how to connect services using HTTP in a secure way within a VPC.

Recommendations for getting started with Cloud Run

For those who want to get started with Google Cloud Platform and Cloud Run, Ramón recommended:

• Create a personal project and deploy the first service using a basic Docker image.
• Use the free GCP layer to experiment without financial risk.
• Automate testing and deployment with Terraform and CI/CD.
• Take advantage of the official documentation resources and quick start guides available on the Google Cloud site.

Conclusion: Decomplicating the cloud is possible with Cloud Run

Cloud Run represents a new generation of cloud services where simplicity and technical power go hand in hand. This workshop proved that you don't need to be a Kubernetes expert to take your application to production with security, scalability and efficiency.

Thanks to its native integration with the Google Cloud Platform ecosystem, its low cost, and its ease of use, Cloud Run is a must-have tool for any modern developer who wants to focus on delivering value, without wasting time on infrastructure management.

If you want to see the full workshop you can do so here: