What is the purpose of a VPN in Google Cloud networking?

The purpose of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in Google Cloud networking is to securely connect your on-premises network to your Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) over the public internet. This secure connection is vital as it encrypts the data transmitted across the public internet, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected against interception and unauthorized access.

Setting up a VPN allows organizations to extend their private network into the cloud by providing private IP address ranges and enabling secure communication between the on-premises infrastructure and Google Cloud resources. This is especially important for businesses that wish to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud services while maintaining control over their private data and applications.

Other options, while related to different aspects of networking, do not accurately represent the core function of a VPN. For instance, creating a secure connection between two cloud providers is more aligned with inter-cloud connectivity solutions than a VPN. Enhancing application performance pertains to network optimization and design strategies but does not directly involve the VPN's purpose. Data storage backups typically involve different services like Google Cloud Storage or Backup and Disaster Recovery solutions, which do not relate to the functionality provided by a VPN.