Introduction to Cloud Computing

Defining cloud computing

• Components of a computing cloud
• Differentiating types of clouds: public, private, hybrid

Delivering services from the cloud

• Categorizing service types
• Comparing vendor cloud products: Amazon, Google, Microsoft and others

Adopting the Cloud

Key drivers of cloud computing solutions

• Instantaneous provisioning of computing resources
• Handling varied loads with elasticity and seamless scalability
• Tapping into an infinite storage capacity
• Cost-effective pay-as-you-use billing models

Evaluating barriers to cloud computing

• Handling sensitive data
• Aspects of cloud security
• Assessing governance solutions

Exploiting Software as a Service (SaaS)

Characterizing SaaS

• Minimizing the need for local hardware and software
• Streamlining administration with centralized installation and updates
• Optimizing cost and performance with the ability to scale on demand

Comparing service scenarios

• Improving collaboration with business productivity tools
• Simplifying business process creation by integrating existing components

Inspecting SaaS technologies

• Deploying Web applications
• Implementing Web services: SOAP, REST
• Choosing a development platform

Delivering Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Exploring the technical foundation for PaaS

• Specifying the components of PaaS
• Analyzing vendor PaaS provisions
• Selecting an appropriate implementation

Building services with solution stacks

• Evaluating the architecture of vendor specific platforms
• Becoming familiar with service platform tools
• Leveraging the power of scalable middleware

Managing cloud storage

• Controlling unstructured data in the cloud
• Deploying relational databases in the cloud
• Improving data availability

Employing support services

• Testing in the cloud
• Monitoring cloud-based services
• Analyzing portability across platforms

Deploying Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Enabling technologies

• Scalable server clusters
• Achieving transparency with platform virtualization
• Elastic storage devices

Accessing IaaS

• Provisioning servers on demand
• Handling dynamic and static IP addresses
• Tools and support for management and monitoring

Building a Business Case

Calculating the financial implications

• Analyzing current and future computing requirements
• Comparing in-house facilities to the cloud
• Estimating economic factors downstream

Preserving business continuity

• Selecting appropriate service-level agreements
• Safeguarding access to assets in the cloud
• Security, availability and disaster recovery strategies

Migrating to the Cloud

Technical considerations

• Re-architecting applications for the cloud
• Integrating the cloud with existing applications
• Avoiding vendor lock-in

Planning the migration

• Incremental vs. one-step solution
• Selecting a vendor
• Establishing staff skill requirements