# Three hidden GKE optimization opportunities unlocked by Google Cloud VM modernization

DevFeed: [Three hidden GKE optimization opportunities unlocked by Google Cloud VM modernization](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/three-hidden-gke-optimization-opportunities-unlocked-by-google-cloud-vm-modernization-12253.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://platformengineering.org/blog/three-hidden-gke-optimization-opportunities-unlocked-by-google-cloud-vm-modernization>)

Author: Federico Iezzi

Published: 2026-07-23T05:40:01Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Platform Engineering Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/platform-engineering-blog.md>)

Topics: [Kubernetes](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kubernetes.md>), [Optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/optimization.md>), [benchmarking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/benchmarking.md>), [Cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud.md>), [Google](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/google.md>), [cloud-infrastructure](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud-infrastructure.md>), [Terraform](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/terraform.md>)

Tags: [autoscaling](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/autoscaling.md>), [benchmarking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/benchmarking.md>), [cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cloud.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [cpu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cpu.md>), [efficiency](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/efficiency.md>), [google-cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/google-cloud.md>), [infrastructure](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/infrastructure.md>), [kubernetes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kubernetes.md>), [modernization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/modernization.md>), [optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/optimization.md>), [performance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/performance.md>), [terraform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terraform.md>)

## AI overview

This article examines hidden GKE optimization opportunities from modernizing Google Cloud VM infrastructure. It highlights moving node pools from older N1 or E2 machine types to N4 instances, benchmarking equivalent workloads, and evaluating node consolidation, throughput, storage efficiency, and total cost of ownership.

## Source excerpt

Unlock hidden GKE optimizations by modernizing your Google Cloud VM infrastructure. Discover how switching to N4 instances and leveraging Hyperdisk storage pools can boost performance, increase storage efficiency, and reduce your total cost of ownership