Course: Cloud Computing for Decision-makers

Cloud computing enables the delivery of computing services such as storage, networking, and software over the Internet. This capability allows individuals or organizations to scale resources as needed, lower operating costs, and increase productivity. Explore how business transformation can allow you to shift or re-align business operations. Discover how to plan and prepare for business transformation-related changes, learn how to communicate changes to employees and stakeholders, and explore how information technology has revolutionized business operations. Next, examine the role of information technology (IT) decision makers and learn how to differentiate between brand-centric, multifocal, and aggregator decision makers. Discover how information technology helped grow and reduce costs for organizations prior to cloud computing, and explore challenges when adopting a digital-first mindset for business. Lastly, explore the differences between on-premise and cloud environments, and recognize key factors to examine when considering a move to the cloud.

The cloud has various deployment and service models that can help an organization design their very own cloud strategy based on their needs. In this course, you'll learn about components of cloud computing including storage, compute, data management, monitoring, code management, and process and deployment management. Investigate cloud deployment models (public, private, hybrid, and community) and serverless architectures such as Backend as a Service (BaaS) and Function as a Service (FaaS). Explore cloud service models such as Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service and discover common use cases for each. Finally, learn about cloud deployment architectures and security considerations including lack of control, data breaches, and compliance. After course completion, you'll be able to recognize cloud deployment and service models and key cloud security considerations.

Cloud computing enables on-demand availability over the Internet of common resources such as applications, storage, and processing power. In this course, learn about cloud computing characteristics, how cloud computing can help reduce costs, and the key advantages of cloud computing agility. Next, examine common cloud computing maintenance tasks, the regulatory benefits of cloud computing, as well as the economics of cloud computing, regulatory considerations to take into account, and its potential impact on employees. Finally, explore some common cloud migration strategies used to move assets and services to the cloud. Upon completion, you'll be able to recognize factors to consider when pitching cloud computing.

Many organizations have made the leap into introducing at least some cloud-based solutions, and many others are considering ways to do so. In this course, learn some of the most common reasons to use cloud computing and the considerations to take into account for doing so. Next, discover the different types and key characteristics of cloud computing and explore its common deployment models. Finally, examine the key business benefits of cloud computing in addition to a few of the most common challenges and risks to consider. Upon completion, you'll be able to recognize the best practices and key characteristics of cloud computing.

You most likely use at least a few cloud-based services every day without realizing it. If you're considering cloud implementation in your own organization, it's useful to look into how familiar companies have done it. In this course, examine how popular companies like Netflix, Pinterest, Spotify, and DigitalNZ have used cloud computing to increase their profits, find efficiencies, and improve service delivery to customers. Next, discover some of the pitfalls and risks of cloud computing. Finally, explore unsuccessful cloud migration experiences, including what went wrong and the causes and impacts of failures. Upon completion, you'll be able to recognize examples of successful and challenging cloud deployments.

Understanding the ways cloud computing can benefit you, your work, your organization, and even your customers can help you choose the best ways to harness cloud solutions. In this course, learn positive ways that cloud computing can impact the way people work and how it can improve employee productivity. Next, explore the positive impacts of the cloud on businesses, including increased innovation, business continuity, and efficiencies. Finally, examine some of the challenges cloud computing might impose on work and the workforce, the benefits of using big data in the cloud, and how artificial intelligence and cloud solutions can offer value. Upon completion, you'll be able to recognize the benefits of the cloud on a workforce, business, and customers.

When you research cloud providers, you'll typically see three major players: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Each provider offers similar services, such as storage, flexible computing, and networking options. However, each provider differs and operates in their own unique way. In this course, you'll explore how cloud innovations have evolved since 2010 and discover current trends in cloud computing. Explore selling points of each of the three major cloud players and discover the services, features, and challenges associated with each. Explore top cloud monitoring tools, discuss how they can help organizations improve performance, and list common factors to consider when choosing a cloud platform provider.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that can help businesses grow or scale by offering on-demand compute power, content delivery, storage solutions, and other functionalities. In this course, you will learn about AWS features, including compute, storage, database, networking, analytics, machine learning, and security. Discover AWS benefits, including flexibility, automation, and cost savings. Explore AWS pricing and support models, and compare and contrast AWS with other cloud providers such as Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Explore AWS use cases such as archiving, blockchain, cloud operations, and serverless computing, and discover tools to build on AWS, including C++, Java, .NET, and Python. Lastly, discover how AWS can help build and deliver products using AWS and DevOps practices, and explore how AWS can help secure workloads and applications in the cloud.

Azure is a Microsoft-based cloud computing service that provides a range of cloud services including servers, storage, databases, networking, analytics, and more. In this course, you'll explore Azure features such as artificial intelligence, compute, containers, multi-cloud, and Internet of Things (IoT). Discover the tools available in Azure as well as how the pricing and support plans work. Explore possible challenges moving to Azure, including potential feature gaps, and compare Azure to other cloud providers such as Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. Discover software development solutions in Azure as well as built-in security features and integration and compatibility benefits. Finish by exploring strategies to increase return on investment using Azure as a primary cloud provider.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of computing services for developing, deploying, and operating applications over the Internet. In this course, you'll explore the history of GCP and discover the benefits of its global infrastructure, regions, and zones. Explore GCP services such as AI, API management, compute, containers, analytics, databases, multi-cloud, and Internet of Things (IoT). Discover GCP developer tools, including Cloud Build, Cloud Code, Container Registry, and Cloud Tasks. Consider potential challenges and feature gaps when migrating to GCP and explore GCP customer support and pricing plans. Finally, discover how GCP can help organizations ensure regulatory and compliance requirements and explore how GCP can help improve business and performance and increase returns on investment.

Cloud security combines technologies, policies, controls, and services to help protect cloud infrastructure, resources, and data. In this course, you'll explore the history of IT security and learn how it evolved to include cloud technologies. Discover common security threats such as cloud misconfigurations, unauthorized access, limited cloud visibility, insider threats, malware infections, and account hijacking. Explore how built-in security controls can attempt to mitigate security attacks and review cloud security data breaches from recent years, including how they were discovered and mitigated and the cost associated with resolving them. Lastly, explore how enterprises can plan for various security scenarios and why leaders should make security a key feature of their products and services.

Key decision-makers need to understand the risks of modern cloud-based solutions as they plan their organization's move from traditional on-premises solutions. In this course, you will explore the risks associated with outsourcing services to a third-party cloud provider, especially related to critical services such as payment data. Discover potential legal risks associated with cloud computing that may apply to healthcare, banking, and government agencies. Explore risks such as lack of control, availability, and inexperienced staff. Discover how the lack of due diligence when moving to the cloud can result in security or privacy risks and how compliance in the cloud era compares to that of the earlier IT era. Lastly, explore cloud compliance standards, enforcement procedures, and risk management frameworks that can help manage risk in the cloud.

Cloud adoption is a strategy utilized by organizations to succeed in the cloud and achieve business outcomes. A sound cloud adoption strategy can help reduce costs, mitigate risks, and achieve scalability. Explore the costs, including hidden ones, associated with cloud adoption. Discover industries that can benefit from cloud adoption, including healthcare, finance, and education, and explore the benefits of automating IT processes through the cloud. Explore how to transition to the cloud and discover critical steps such as assessment, planning, adoption, migration, and management. Finally, explore cloud security considerations and cloud adoption patterns such as cloud-native, cloud-first, "lift and shift," offload, autonomy, incremental, chaos and anarchy, innovation, and experimental models.

Final Exam: Cloud Computing for Decision-makers will test your knowledge and application of the topics presented throughout the Cloud Computing for Decision-makers track of the Skillsoft Aspire Cloud Computing for Leaders and Decision-makers Journey.