What configuration change can help reduce network expenses for an application running in GKE?

Switching your network services to the Standard Tier can significantly reduce network expenses for an application running in Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). The Standard Tier is designed to provide cost-effective network services for applications that do not require the features or performance of the Premium Tier, such as enhanced routing and performance optimizations that are better suited for global applications.

When you use the Standard Tier, the data is routed through Google's network at a more localized level, which often results in lower egress charges, especially if your application primarily serves users within specific geographic regions. This pricing model is particularly beneficial if your workloads have predictable traffic patterns or if the service is mainly utilized in certain areas.

This approach allows for efficient budgeting and managing of costs, as the Standard Tier is generally cheaper than the Premium Tier, which routes all traffic through Google's premium backbone. By choosing the Standard Tier, organizations can optimize their network expenses effectively while still maintaining a necessary level of performance for their applications.

The other choices may offer other benefits or features but do not specifically target network cost optimization in the same way.