Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager vs Google Cloud VM Manager
Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager
cloud.google.com
Google Cloud VM Manager
cloud.google.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager | Google Cloud VM Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · IT Configuration Management Software | 7.0 (#20) | 8.6 (#7) |
| Access control | It uses IAM to control access, and deployment service accounts need permissions for the resources being deployed. | Creating patch jobs or OS policy assignments requires IAM permissions that Google says can grant the ability to run code on VMs; Google recommends least privilege. |
| Integrations | Infrastructure Manager uses Cloud Build for automated workflows and supports GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, GitLab, GitLab Enterprise, and Developer Connect connections through Cloud Build. | VM Manager works with the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI, direct OS Config API calls, and Terraform resources. |
| Purpose | Infrastructure Manager is a managed service for deploying and managing Google Cloud infrastructure with Terraform configurations. | VM Manager manages operating systems for large Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. |
Plans
Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager
- Pay-as-you-goPriced on request
Google Cloud VM Manager
- Free tierFree
- Usage-based VM ManagerFree
- VM ManagerFree
In their own words
Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager
Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Google Cloud VM Manager
Google Cloud VM Manager manages operating systems across Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. Its tools cover patch management, OS inventory and OS policies. Patch jobs apply updates on demand or on a schedule, report compliance, and can use selected approvals and pre- or post-patching scripts. OS inventory collects hostnames, OS and kernel versions, installed packages, available updates, Windows applications and OS vulnerabilities. OS policies centralize software configuration deployment, maintenance and reporting. Teams can use the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI or OS Config API; Terraform can extend scope across projects. The service supports projects inside VPC Service Controls perimeters, but patch jobs operate on VMs in one project at a time. A free tier covers 100 VMs per Cloud Billing account per month, and limited-functionality mode is available at no cost for unlimited VMs. After the free tier, the listed charge is $0.003 per hour per VM with an active OS Config agent.