In Google Cloud, a match key defines the scope at which a Resource-based Committed Use Discount (CUD) applies. It is composed of two elements:
- Region
- Machine Series
This pairing represents the first layer of granularity for purchasing and applying CUDs. For example, a CUD purchased for the n2 machine series in the us-central1 region will only apply to resources that match both the specified region and machine series.
We analyze usage at the resource level, allowing us to fine-tune coverage and ensure maximum efficiency. However, our coverage settings and commitment modeling are anchored around the match key, as it defines the effective boundary for each CUD commitment.