If you’re a startup or technology company in Canada looking to build or modernize your platform on Google Cloud, you probably don’t need a large consulting firm and a team of junior engineers. You need someone who has actually designed and operated real systems on GCP, understands the trade-offs, and can work directly with your engineering team.
I’m Amit Malhotra, a Google Cloud Architect with over 20 years of experience in infrastructure and platform engineering, including more than 5 years working hands-on with Google Cloud. Through Buoyant Cloud, I help startups and mid-sized tech companies design, migrate, and operate production-grade platforms on GCP.
This is not generic “cloud consulting”. I work as a hands-on, fractional cloud architect for teams that want practical solutions, not slide decks.
I typically work with:
Technology startups migrating from AWS/Azure or on-prem to Google Cloud or starting their cloud journey.
Engineering teams struggling with cloud cost, complexity, or reliability
Founders who need a senior cloud architect without hiring full-time
Teams building on GKE, Cloud Run, or data platforms on GCP
If you already have a team of cloud engineers and just need strategic direction and implementation support, this model usually works very well.
I don’t sell fixed “packages” or generic services. Every engagement starts with understanding your current architecture, your product, and your business constraints.
Most of my work falls into three categories:
1. Google Cloud Architecture & Platform Design
I help teams design secure and scalable GCP platforms, including:
GCP landing zones and project structure
VPC design (hub-and-spoke, shared VPCs, private networking)
IAM models and service identity strategy
Private GKE cluster design and upgrades
Observability and logging architecture
The focus is always on building something that your team can operate long-term, not just getting it running.
2. Cloud Migration to Google Cloud
I work with teams migrating to GCP from:
AWS
On-prem environments
Hybrid setups
This usually includes:
Application and data migration planning
Infrastructure automation using Terraform
Kubernetes or Cloud Run adoption
Security and compliance design
Cutover strategy and risk management
The goal is not just “move workloads”, but improve reliability, security, and cost structure.
3. DevOps, Terraform & Platform Engineering
A large part of my work today is helping teams move toward modern platform engineering practices on GCP, including:
Terraform-based infrastructure automation
CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions
Workload Identity Federation (no service account keys)
Secure container pipelines for GKE and Cloud Run
Environment vending and internal platforms
This is especially useful for startups that want to scale engineering without turning infrastructure into a bottleneck.
Instead of focusing on tools, we focus on your business outcomes:
1. Strategic Cloud Modernization I help you transition legacy workloads into high-performance, cloud-native environments. Our team focuses on reducing technical debt and building a foundation for long-term agility.
2. Enterprise Security & Zero-Trust Architecture Security is the cornerstone of every engagement. We implement robust security perimeters, identity management, and automated guardrails to protect your most sensitive data.
3. Strategic FinOps & Cost Governance Maximize your cloud investment with proactive cost management. We audit your GCP environment to eliminate waste and implement automated scaling that aligns with your actual business needs.
4. Data & AI Readiness Prepare your organization for the next wave of innovation. We build the secure data pipelines and infrastructure required to scale machine learning and Generative AI models safely.
Most large consulting firms work like this:
You talk to a partner
Work is done by junior consultants
You get reports, slides, and hand-offs
My model is different:
You work directly with me
I design and implement the solution
No layers, no sales team, no hand-offs
Faster execution and lower cost
For startups and small engineering teams, this is usually a much better fit.
Some of the specific areas I spend most of my time on:
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
Cloud Run and serverless platforms
Terraform and infrastructure automation
GCP networking and IAM
Workload Identity Federation
FinOps and cloud cost optimization
DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines
If these topics sound familiar, we’ll probably work well together.
I’m Amit Malhotra, a senior cloud architect and founder of Buoyant Cloud.
I have over 17 years of experience in technology, with deep hands-on work in:
Cloud architecture
Kubernetes and container platforms
DevOps and platform engineering
Infrastructure automation
I currently focus on Google Cloud and work primarily with startups and mid-sized technology companies in Canada.
I enjoy working directly with engineering teams, solving real problems, and building systems that are simple, secure, and maintainable.
If you’re considering Google Cloud or already running on GCP and want a second opinion on your architecture, the easiest way to start is a short call.
30 minutes. No sales pitch.
We’ll look at your current setup and see if I can help.
