Here's a guide to learning fundamental concepts of core infrastructure related to Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This is ideal for someone new to the GCP ecosystem and a good first starting point.

Core Infrastructure Concepts

• What is cloud computing?
• What is IaaS, PaaS, SaaS?
• Google Cloud Network (regions, zones, edge locations)
• Security layers in GCP

What is Cloud Computing?

• Anyone can demand resources without manual interaction.
• Resources can be pooled to pass savings on to users.
• Resources can scale up or down based on demand.
• Resource allocation abstracts physical location concerns.
• Resources are billed based on usage or allocation.

What is IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service) are service models in cloud computing.

Google Cloud Network

GCP's global network includes:

• Regions: Geographical locations containing multiple zones.
• Zones: Isolated data centers within a region.
• Edge locations: Locations closer to users for lower latency.

Security Layers in GCP

GCP uses a multi-layered approach to security:

1. Hardware & Peripheral Level: Custom hardware, secure boot stack, and premises security.
2. Service Deployment Layer: Encrypted RPC calls between services; intra-data center communication secure.
3. User Identity Layer: Identity management and support for multi-factor authentication (2FA).
4. Storage Level: Encryption of data at rest and in transit.
5. Internet Communication Layer: Google Front End with public-private key pairs and X.509 certificates. Protects against DoS attacks.
6. Operational Security Layer: Intrusion detection, insider risk reduction, U2F enforcement for employees, and secure software development practices.