Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/cloud-computing-basics
In today’s digital landscape, understanding cloud computing is no longer a niche skill; it’s a fundamental necessity. Whether you’re a student, a professional looking to upskill, or simply curious about the technology that powers much of our online world, Coursera’s ‘Cloud Computing Basics (Cloud 101)’ course is an excellent starting point. I recently completed this course and found it to be a comprehensive and accessible introduction to a complex topic.
The course kicks off by defining the “Cloud” itself, breaking down what it is, what it supports, and how it’s delivered. It cleverly frames computing as a utility, much like electricity or water, and delves into crucial aspects like storage services and cloud economics. The initial module also touches upon distributed computing, managed infrastructure, and introduces Azure services, providing a broad overview of the foundational concepts.
One of the standout modules is ‘Levels of Managed Service.’ Here, the course clearly explains the differences between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and the increasingly popular Function as a Service (FaaS). This clarity is vital for anyone trying to navigate the different cloud offerings.
The ‘Deployment Models’ module offers a solid understanding of how cloud services can be implemented, covering private, public, and hybrid cloud environments. It also explores specialized models like HPC cloud and big data cloud, which are essential for specific industry needs.
‘Hosting Scenarios’ provides practical context by comparing various hosting methods, from bare-metal computing and virtual machines (VMs) to containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes. The discussion on on-premises computing versus cloud computing, along with best practices and use-cases, is particularly valuable for real-world application.
For those interested in the major players, the ‘Comparing Cloud Platforms’ module offers a concise overview of industry giants like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), alongside IBM Cloud and Salesforce. While it doesn’t go into deep technical detail for each, it provides enough information to understand their core offerings and differentiators.
Finally, ‘The Future of Cloud Computing’ module looks ahead, discussing exciting trends such as serverless computing, distributed and decentralized applications, and the integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) with cloud services, including Azure Internet of Things (IoT). This forward-looking perspective is inspiring and highlights the continuous evolution of cloud technology.
Overall, ‘Cloud Computing Basics (Cloud 101)’ is a well-structured and informative course. It successfully demystifies cloud computing for beginners, providing a strong foundation for further learning. The explanations are clear, the syllabus is logical, and the scope is broad enough to give a good understanding of the cloud ecosystem. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to gain a foundational knowledge of cloud computing.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/cloud-computing-basics