Google announced some innovations for Google Cloud at its Data Cloud Summit. It will also offset the costs of a database migration to Google.
Immediately available is Vertex AI Workbench, where data and machine learning systems come together in one interface with a common toolset for data analytics, data science and machine learning. There is also direct access to BigQuery from the Vertex AI Workbench.
A new feature currently in the preview is BigLake. This brings together data warehouses and data lakes to extend the capabilities of BigQuery. Google also promises better performance around multi-cloud data storage, preventing data from being duplicated or moved relative to the source.
Soon, Google will also introduce Spanner change streams, a tool to track changes in Spanner databases.
Concerning business intelligence, the products are brought closer together to access different data. This includes Connected Sheets and Data Studio for Looker. So, for example, you can open Looker data models in Data Studio.
Another notable novelty is the Database Migration Program, a program to help companies move from on-premise or other clouds to Google’s database services.
This includes tools, resources, expertise and an incentive fund to offset the costs of that database migration. Unfortunately, the extent to which Google wants to compensate is not yet clear because the page with more information about the initiative is not yet online.
Finally, there are also updates about the partner ecosystem. For example, there is now a new designation, Google Cloud Ready – BigQuery, for partners that meet a range of functional and interoperability requirements. In addition, is there an Analytics Hub Preview for partners and a ‘Built with BigQuery’ that currently includes about 700 partners.
