Cloud Fundamentals

Cloud Computing Core Concepts

• What you Need to Know

  • Cloud Service Models and Deployment Types

    • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Virtual machines, storage, networking
    • Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application platforms and development environments
    • Software as a Service (SaaS) - Complete applications delivered over the internet
    • Public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud deployment strategies
    • Resources:
      • Cloud Computing Fundamentals - NIST - Official cloud computing definition and characteristics
      • Cloud Service Models Explained - AWS - IaaS, PaaS, SaaS comparison and use cases
      • Cloud Deployment Models - Microsoft - Public, private, hybrid cloud strategies

  • Cloud Economics and Pricing Models

    • Pay-as-you-go pricing and consumption-based billing
    • Reserved instances and committed use discounts
    • Spot instances and preemptible VMs for cost optimization
    • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis and cost management
    • Resources:
      • Cloud Economics - AWS - Cloud cost optimization strategies and TCO analysis
      • Azure Cost Management - Cost optimization and billing management
      • Google Cloud Pricing - GCP pricing models and cost optimization tools

Multi-Cloud Compute Services

• What you Need to Know

  • Virtual Machine Services Across Platforms

    • AWS EC2 instances, instance types, and sizing strategies
    • Azure Virtual Machines, VM series, and performance optimization
    • Google Compute Engine, machine types, and custom configurations
    • Resources:
      • Amazon EC2 User Guide - Complete EC2 documentation and best practices
      • Azure Virtual Machines Documentation - VM deployment and management
      • Google Compute Engine Documentation - GCE setup and configuration guide

  • Container Services and Serverless Computing

    • Container services: AWS ECS/Fargate, Azure Container Instances, Google Cloud Run
    • Serverless functions: AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google Cloud Functions
    • Kubernetes services: AWS EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE
    • Resources:
      • AWS Container Services - ECS, Fargate, and EKS overview
      • Azure Container Services - Container deployment options
      • Google Cloud Containers - Container and Kubernetes services

Multi-Cloud Storage Solutions

• What you Need to Know

  • Object Storage Services

    • AWS S3 buckets, storage classes, and lifecycle policies
    • Azure Blob Storage, access tiers, and data management
    • Google Cloud Storage, storage classes, and object lifecycle management
    • Resources:
      • Amazon S3 User Guide - Object storage best practices and configuration
      • Azure Blob Storage Documentation - Blob storage management and optimization
      • Google Cloud Storage Documentation - Object storage and data management

  • Block and File Storage Systems

    • Block storage: AWS EBS, Azure Managed Disks, Google Persistent Disks
    • File storage: AWS EFS, Azure Files, Google Filestore
    • Storage performance optimization and backup strategies
    • Resources:
      • AWS Storage Services - Complete storage portfolio overview
      • Azure Storage Documentation - Storage services and management
      • Google Cloud Storage Options - Storage solutions comparison

Multi-Cloud Database Services

• What you Need to Know

  • Relational Database Services

    • AWS RDS (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle)
    • Azure SQL Database and Azure Database services
    • Google Cloud SQL and AlloyDB for PostgreSQL
    • Resources:
      • Amazon RDS User Guide - Relational database management and optimization
      • Azure SQL Documentation - SQL database services and management
      • Google Cloud SQL Documentation - Managed relational databases

  • NoSQL and Specialized Database Services

    • Document databases: AWS DocumentDB, Azure Cosmos DB, Google Firestore
    • Key-value stores: AWS DynamoDB, Azure Table Storage, Google Bigtable
    • In-memory databases: AWS ElastiCache, Azure Cache for Redis, Google Memorystore
    • Resources:
      • AWS Database Services - Complete database portfolio
      • Azure Database Services - Database options and use cases
      • Google Cloud Databases - Database services overview

Multi-Cloud Networking Fundamentals

• What you Need to Know

  • Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Configuration

    • AWS VPC, subnets, route tables, and security groups
    • Azure Virtual Network, subnets, NSGs, and route tables
    • Google VPC, subnets, firewall rules, and routing
    • Resources:
      • Amazon VPC User Guide - VPC design and implementation
      • Azure Virtual Network Documentation - Virtual networking concepts
      • Google VPC Documentation - VPC setup and management

  • Load Balancing and Content Delivery

    • Application load balancers: AWS ALB, Azure Application Gateway, Google Cloud Load Balancing
    • Content delivery networks: AWS CloudFront, Azure CDN, Google Cloud CDN
    • DNS services: AWS Route 53, Azure DNS, Google Cloud DNS
    • Resources:
      • AWS Load Balancing - Load balancer types and configuration
      • Azure Load Balancing - Load balancing solutions
      • Google Cloud Load Balancing - Load balancing options

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

• What you Need to Know

  • Multi-Cloud Identity Management

    • AWS IAM users, groups, roles, and policies
    • Azure Active Directory and Azure RBAC
    • Google Cloud IAM and Identity-Aware Proxy
    • Resources:
      • AWS IAM User Guide - Identity and access management best practices
      • Azure Active Directory Documentation - Identity management and security
      • Google Cloud IAM Documentation - Access control and permissions

  • Security Best Practices and Compliance

    • Principle of least privilege and role-based access control
    • Multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies
    • Audit logging and compliance monitoring
    • Resources:
      • Cloud Security Best Practices - AWS - Security framework and guidelines
      • Azure Security Best Practices - Security recommendations and implementation
      • Google Cloud Security - Security principles and best practices

Monitoring and Management Tools

• What you Need to Know

  • Cloud-Native Monitoring Services

    • AWS CloudWatch metrics, logs, and alarms
    • Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights
    • Google Cloud Monitoring and Cloud Logging
    • Resources:
      • Amazon CloudWatch User Guide - Monitoring and observability
      • Azure Monitor Documentation - Monitoring and analytics
      • Google Cloud Monitoring - Infrastructure and application monitoring

  • Cost Management and Optimization

    • Cost tracking and budget alerts across platforms
    • Resource tagging and cost allocation strategies
    • Right-sizing recommendations and optimization tools
    • Resources:
      • AWS Cost Management - Cost optimization and budgeting tools
      • Azure Cost Management and Billing - Cost analysis and optimization
      • Google Cloud Cost Management - Cost visibility and control

Hands-On Practice and Labs

• What you Need to Know

  • Multi-Cloud Lab Exercises

    • Deploy identical workloads across AWS, Azure, and GCP
    • Compare service offerings and pricing models
    • Implement cross-cloud connectivity and data synchronization
    • Resources:
      • AWS Hands-On Tutorials - Step-by-step AWS labs
      • Azure Learning Modules - Interactive Azure exercises
      • Google Cloud Skills Boost - Hands-on GCP labs and quests

  • Real-World Project Implementation

    • Build a three-tier web application using cloud services
    • Implement disaster recovery across multiple cloud regions
    • Create cost-optimized architectures for different workload types
    • Resources:
      • Cloud Architecture Patterns - Common cloud design patterns
      • AWS Architecture Center - Reference architectures and solutions
      • Google Cloud Architecture Framework - Architecture design principles

Ready to Advance? Continue to Module 2: Multi-Cloud Infrastructure to master advanced networking, Infrastructure as Code, and enterprise-scale cloud architecture.