Unlocking the Power of Google Cloud with Etsy

Unlocking the Power of Google Cloud with Etsy

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Beginnings of Etsy
3. Etsy's Decision to Migrate to Google Cloud
4. Evaluating Cloud Providers
5. The Importance of a DevOps Culture
6. Determining the Best Cloud Provider
7. Factors That Led to Choosing Google Cloud
8. Benefits of Google Cloud for Etsy
9. Technical Considerations for the Migration
10. Timeline for the Migration

Article:

1. Introduction

In this article, we will explore Etsy's decision to migrate from their own data centers to the Google Cloud platform. We will discuss the reasons behind this decision, the evaluation process of different cloud providers, and the benefits that Google Cloud offers.

2. The Beginnings of Etsy

Etsy, a successful online marketplace, started in a Brooklyn apartment and quickly grew into a community-oriented platform. With a strong emphasis on technology and innovation, Etsy has been at the forefront of continuous integration and deployment. However, as the company grew, they faced the challenge of managing their own infrastructure.

3. Etsy's Decision to Migrate to Google Cloud

Upon Mike Fisher's arrival as the CTO of Etsy, he was tasked with evaluating whether the company should continue to invest in their own data centers or opt for a cloud-based solution. After a thorough evaluation process, Etsy announced their partnership with Google Cloud in December.

4. Evaluating Cloud Providers

Etsy conducted a comprehensive evaluation of multiple cloud providers, including Google Cloud. The evaluation process involved breaking down the migration project into subprojects and assessing each provider's architecture to meet their requirements. Ultimately, Google Cloud emerged as the preferred choice, scoring above 50,000 points and surpassing other providers by over 10%.

5. The Importance of a DevOps Culture

Etsy has always had a strong devops culture, relying on their own tools and technologies to drive innovation. While some cloud providers boast about being included in various magic quadrants, Etsy's unique requirements went beyond these traditional measures. The focus was on finding a partner that aligned culturally and shared Etsy's mission of sustainable commerce.

6. Determining the Best Cloud Provider

Choosing between AWS and Google Cloud can be a challenging task for enterprises. It ultimately depends on the specific needs and goals of the company. For Etsy, the decision-making process was driven by functional requirements, culture fit, and sustainability. Google Cloud outshined other providers, coming within 10% of each other in technical capabilities while excelling in other crucial areas.

7. Factors That Led to Choosing Google Cloud

Google Cloud's willingness to collaborate closely with Etsy and understand their unique requirements played a significant role in the decision-making process. The alignment of vision in areas such as sustainability and renewable energy further solidified the partnership. Etsy recognized Google Cloud's machinery and big data capabilities, especially services like BigQuery and machine learning APIs, as crucial factors that got them excited about the migration.

8. Benefits of Google Cloud for Etsy

With its migration to Google Cloud, Etsy expects to leverage various benefits. These include improved latency for enhanced user experience, scalability, and reliability of Google's infrastructure, support for machine learning and data analytics, and access to a wide range of critical services used by Google internally.

9. Technical Considerations for the Migration

The migration process will involve moving Etsy's systems and services to Google Cloud over a period of approximately two years. With a billion events processed daily, low latency and high page load times are crucial requirements for Etsy. Google Cloud's infrastructure, distributed across regions, will play a vital role in meeting these requirements.

10. Timeline for the Migration

Etsy announced their partnership with Google Cloud in December and began their migration efforts in January. They aim to complete the migration within the next 18 months, gradually transitioning all their systems and services to the cloud.

In conclusion, Etsy's decision to migrate to Google Cloud aligns with their objective of maintaining sustainable commerce while leveraging the benefits of a robust cloud infrastructure. By evaluating various factors such as culture fit, technical capabilities, and sustainability goals, Etsy determined that Google Cloud was the ideal partner for their migration journey. The article highlights the significance of a devops culture in making such decisions and the importance of considering specific functional requirements when comparing cloud providers. Through this migration, Etsy looks forward to enhancing user experience, scalability, and leveraging advanced technologies.