Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Explore virtualization and containerization, from traditional infrastructure with multiple physical servers to virtual machines under a hypervisor, then to single operating system containers powering cloud computing.

Explore how cloud computing delivers files, applications, and resources over the internet, with daily examples like Google Drive, social media, and online payments, and its business potential.

Explore cloud service models, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and learn how providers manage infrastructure while you focus on data and applications.

Develop an analytical framework to select a cloud service provider you trust with data and applications. Analyze your organization's requirements to identify features, resources, and security and compliance goals.

Explore the eight cloud computing challenges from the 2020 Rightscale state of the cloud survey, including security, managing cloud spend, governance, lack of resources or expertise, multi-cloud, and cloud migration.

Master cloud compliance by selecting vendors that provide certified compliance and meet industry standards when moving data from internal storage to cloud or backup services, with mutual input.

Learn cloud security as safeguards and protections that shield resources from leakage, theft, and data loss, including data center security, access control, threat detection, threat mitigation, redundancy, cloud security policy.

Explore misconfiguration and inadequate change control as top cloud threats, causing unsecured data and excessive permissions. Embrace automation to continuously scan and remediate in real time.

Develop a cloud security architecture aligned with business goals, implement a security architecture framework, and maintain an up-to-date threat model with continuous visibility.

Explore how insufficient identity, credentials and key management enables unauthorized access to data. Mitigate risks with multifactor authentication, strong passwords, regular key rotation, least privilege, and centralized key management.

Jeopardize cloud data security and integrity with a weak control plane that undermines the data plane. Apply due diligence and rely on cloud provider controls to protect data and applications.

Explore abuse and nefarious use of cloud services, including DDoS, malware hosting, crypto mining, and data exfiltration, and learn monitoring and DLP controls to prevent these attacks.

Choose local data backups to protect data integrity against ransomware, even with cloud backups, follow the FBI guidance to not pay ransoms, and enable quick restoration.

Learn how to defend against DDoS attacks by implementing multi-layered protections with web application firewalls, intrusion protection systems, IPS, and load balancers, and leverage managed service providers for coverage.

Access management restricts internal users' access to cloud data through role-based controls. Administrators assign roles by need and position, helping meet regulatory requirements and strengthen security.

Develop a cybersecurity strategy to protect your business, employees, and clients' personal information from rising cybercrime, preserve productivity, and maintain credibility and customer trust.

We compare open source and proprietary cloud platforms, highlighting advantages such as flexibility, control, and cost, and explore how hybrid solutions can combine the best of both for your business.