The best way to understand technology isn’t just by reading documentation — it’s by getting your hands dirty.
But let’s be honest: setting up a personal sandbox for cloud experimentation can be intimidating, especially when you’re worried about accidental costs or complex configurations.
That’s why I’m so excited to share a “pro-tip” that many professionals overlook: Google Cloud Skills Boost/Google Skills.
The Hidden Gem: 35 Free Credits Every Month (Google Skills free tier)
Before we dive into the lab, here is the real kicker. Did you know that the Google Skills free tier provides 35 free credits every single month?
In a world where everything seems to be moving to a subscription model, having a recurring pool of credits to run actual hands-on labs at no cost is a massive advantage for anyone looking to up skill. Here is how the credit math works:
- Introductory Labs: 1 credit (You could do 35 of these!)
- Intermediate Labs: 5 credits (Perfect for a deep dive)
Today, I want to highlight a landmark new lab that is a total game-changer for database modernization.
The Spotlight: Migrate from Cloud SQL for SQL Server to AlloyDB using DMS
If you’ve ever dealt with “database lock-in,” you know the pain of moving from proprietary T-SQL (SQL Server) to an open-source compatible engine like PostgreSQL. Historically, this meant weeks of manual code rewriting and schema mapping.
This Intermediate Migrate from Cloud SQL for SQL Server to AlloyDB for PostgreSQL using Database Migration Service Lab shows you how to do it in hours, not weeks.
Why this lab is different:
It moves beyond simple data moving. In this lab, you’ll actually:
- Execute a SQL Server to PostgreSQL Migration: Move a live database from Cloud SQL for SQL Server to AlloyDB for PostgreSQL.
- AI-Assisted Conversion: Use the DMS Conversion Workspace powered by Gemini to automatically fix incompatible code and explain the changes.
- Achieve Minimal-Downtime: Run a continuous migration job that keeps the source and destination in sync until the final cutover.
Why it Matters
Modernizing legacy stacks is one of the highest-value activities a team can undertake, but the risk of downtime or “lost in translation” code often holds us back.
Understanding how Database Migration Service (DMS) uses AI to remediate schema issues is a superpower. It allows building more aggressive modernization roadmaps and helps bypass the “legacy toolchain” headache.
The best part? Since this is an intermediate lab, it costs only 5 credits. With your 35 monthly free credits, you can master the AI-driven database migration and still have 30 credits left to explore other parts of the Google Cloud ecosystem.
Ready to boost your skills?
Stop reading and start building. Use your monthly credit refresh to tackle this milestone lab today. It’s self-paced, hands-on, and — if you play your cards right — completely free.
Check out the Lab here!
What other databases are you looking to migrate? Let me know in the comments!
The Hidden Google Cloud Advantage: Master Database Migration for Free was originally published in Google Cloud – Community on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Source Credit: https://medium.com/google-cloud/the-hidden-google-cloud-advantage-master-database-migration-for-free-346209ad01ef?source=rss—-e52cf94d98af—4
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