Cloud Computing for Absolute Beginners - 1-Hour Crash Course

Name: Cloud Computing for Absolute Beginners - 1-Hour Crash Course
Rating: 4.6 (61 reviews)

Navigating the Basics: From Cloud Fundamentals to Key Services

Created byMAQTBA • Over 60,000 Enrollments

Last updated 3/2026

English

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What you'll learn

A clear understanding of what cloud computing is and its transformative impact on modern industries.
Distinctive knowledge of various cloud deployment models (public, private, hybrid, community) and service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).
Comprehensive insights into major cloud service providers, their offerings, and what sets them apart.
Proficiency in core cloud services, from the workings of virtual machines and containers to the intricacies of storage solutions and content delivery networks.
An introduction to advanced cloud concepts such as AI and ML integration, the role of DevOps in the cloud, and essential best practices for cloud security

Course content

4 sections • 23 lectures • 1h 29m total length

Definition of Cloud Computing3:30
Define cloud computing as on-demand access to a shared pool of resources via the internet, enabling data storage, applications, streaming, and analytics with minimal management.
Features of Cloud Computing3:44
Cloud Deployment Models3:05
Explore cloud deployment models, including public, private, hybrid, and community clouds. Learn how ownership, access, and infrastructure size affect security, compliance, scalability, and costs.
Cloud Service Models4:03
Explore cloud service models—SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS—and how the provider-user boundary defines management and responsibility. See examples like Google Workspace, Heroku, Amazon EC2, Google Kubernetes Engine, and Azure Functions.
Overview of Cloud Computing Quiz

Overview of Major Cloud Service Providers0:47
Explore the landscape of major cloud service providers, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud, and Oracle Cloud, and how they meet storage to machine learning needs.
Introduction to Amazon Web Services (AWS)5:03
AWS offers over 200 cloud services for compute, storage, databases, and machine learning, with pay-as-you-go pricing, global regions, and strong security.
Introduction to Microsoft Azure3:49
Discover Microsoft Azure, a comprehensive cloud platform offering compute, data storage, ai, IoT, security, networking, and developer tools, backed by global data centers and hybrid options.
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform (GCP)6:51
Explore Google Cloud Platform's compute, storage, networking, big data, and AI services—from Compute Engine and App Engine to BigQuery and Vertex AI—driving scalable, pay-as-you-go deployments.
Other Cloud Providers: IBM Cloud and Oracle Cloud1:04
Explore IBM cloud and Oracle cloud as enterprise-focused alternatives to AWS, GCP, and Azure, highlighting IBM's ai analytics and OCI computing, storage, networking, and database.

Introduction to Virtual Machines4:39
Explore virtual machines as software-based representations of physical computers operated by a hypervisor, including bare metal and hosted types, enabling cloud scalability and snapshot-based disaster recovery.
Introduction to Containers5:19
Encapsulate an application and its dependencies into lightweight, immutable container images that run uniformly across environments, using Docker and Kubernetes to build, run, and orchestrate scalable, isolated components.
Introduction to Serverless Computing3:10
Explore how serverless computing abstracts infrastructure, remains hostless, supports stateless function execution, enables a microservices-like architecture, and uses pay-as-you-go, event-driven scaling.
Introduction to Block Storage3:15
Explore block storage in cloud computing, with block level storage, volumes, and fixed-size blocks, enabling fast reads and writes for databases and virtual machines.
Introduction to File Storage1:53
Explore file storage, a hierarchical, file-based method that stores data as files and directories. Includes metadata like size and permissions and supports multi-user access with NAS and locking for integrity.
Introduction to Object Storage2:32
Understand object storage, a cloud storage architecture that stores data as objects with metadata and a globally unique ID, enabling fast access via s3 or http with scalable, fault-tolerant design.
Introduction to Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)4:17
Learn how virtual private clouds (VPCs) create isolated private networks in public clouds using subnets, route tables, internet gateways, VPN connections, and security groups.
Introduction to Content Delivery Network (CDN)1:27
The course explains how content delivery networks use distributed edge servers to cache content from origin servers, delivering web resources based on location to improve performance.
Introduction to Load Balancers3:12
Explore how load balancers distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers to boost responsiveness and availability, using classifiers, schedulers, and real-time load data to route requests.
Core Cloud Services Quiz

Introduction to Relational Databases (SQL Databases)2:26
Explore relational databases, or sql databases, and how tables with rows and columns use a schema, primary keys, and foreign keys to establish relationships for efficient querying.
Introduction to Non-Relational Databases (NoSQL Databases)4:07
Explore non-relational NoSQL databases and how four types: document-based, graph-based, key-value stores, and column-based stores handle unstructured data with flexible schemas at scale, illustrated by social network use cases.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Services8:05
Discover cloud ai and ml services, including deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, neural networks, and cognitive computing, with real-world examples like AlphaGo, Netflix recommendations, and IBM's Watson.
Introduction to DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)5:42
Explore devops and continuous integration and deployment in the cloud, from continuous business planning and collaborative development to continuous testing, deployment, monitoring, and feedback.
Cloud Security and Compliance Services7:31
Explore cloud security and compliance services that protect data, applications, and infrastructure, covering data security, availability, disaster recovery, governance, IAM, and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001.
Advanced Cloud Services Quiz

Requirements

No prior experience or knowledge of cloud computing is necessary.

Description

Step confidently into the transformative realm of cloud computing with our comprehensive 1-hour crash course tailored for absolute beginners. Whether you're embarking on a career change, enhancing your IT skills, or just plain curious about the cloud, this course offers a structured approach to understanding the foundational elements of cloud technology.

Begin with a clear-cut definition of Cloud Computing, ensuring you grasp its significance in today's digital age. We'll delve into its multifaceted features, painting a holistic picture of the cloud landscape. Learn to differentiate between various deployment and service models, giving you a clearer vision of the choices at hand. Navigate the world of prominent cloud service providers, including AWS, Azure, and GCP, and gain a comparative perspective on what each brings to the table. Dive deeper into lesser-known yet equally impactful players like IBM Cloud and Oracle Cloud.

Journey through the core cloud services, where we demystify everything from the functionalities of virtual machines and containers to the strategic applications of content delivery networks and load balancers. Understand the nuances of different storage solutions, be it block, file, or object storage.

But that's not all. The course also ventures into advanced cloud arenas. Discover the distinctions between relational and non-relational databases and how they underpin numerous modern applications. Get a primer on the cutting-edge domains of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within the cloud. Understand the pivotal role of DevOps in streamlining software delivery and delve into the intricacies of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).

Finally, given the ever-present concerns around data privacy and cyber threats, we conclude with a focus on cloud security and compliance. Familiarize yourself with best practices, common vulnerabilities, and the safeguards in place to ensure a secure cloud environment.

By the end of this course, you'll not only have foundational knowledge but also a forward-looking perspective on the evolving cloud ecosystem. Your journey into the vast skies of cloud computing starts here – join us and soar!

Who this course is for:

Individuals looking to transition into IT or cloud-related roles and seeking a foundational understanding.
Professionals in the IT domain aiming to upgrade their skills and stay updated with the latest in cloud technology.
Business owners or decision-makers wanting to understand the potential of cloud services for their operations.
Students pursuing IT, computer science, or related fields, aiming for a competitive edge in the job market.
Anyone curious about the technological shift towards the cloud and its implications on the digital world.

Cloud Computing for Absolute Beginners - 1-Hour Crash Course

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Overview of Cloud Computing4 lectures • 14min

Cloud Service Providers5 lectures • 18min

Core Cloud Services9 lectures • 30min

Advanced Cloud Services5 lectures • 28min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: