There are many online courses available to teach the fundamentals of cloud computing, some for free while others charge an enrollment fee.
Finding the appropriate course can be daunting for beginners, so this article can help you select the ideal online courses tailored to meet your specific needs.
1. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ (CL0-002) Complete Course
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of cloud computing. Students will gain an understanding of key concepts and deployment models – public, private, hybrid. Furthermore, shared responsibility within cloud environments will be explored along with risk management techniques for risk reduction. Ultimately, students will develop an in-depth knowledge of using cloud technology for increasing efficiency while decreasing costs.
This CompTIA-authorized course is designed to prepare you for the CLO-002 exam. Ideal for new IT professionals, QA engineers and engineering staff as well as nontechnical staff looking for informed decisions regarding cloud services, it demonstrates your ability to understand its rationale, language and principles.
At the conclusion of this course, you will be equipped to design and migrate seamlessly to cloud environments while operating efficiently within them. You will gain an understanding of core cloud technologies like virtualization; software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) plus storage networking security; as well as how to deploy, build and manage applications in the cloud as well as troubleshoot and solve problems and pass the CLO-002 exam.
2. Udemy’s Cloud Computing for Beginners – Infrastructure as a Service
If you are new to cloud computing, this course provides an ideal introduction. It covers an overview of its major components as well as their interrelationship, such as cloud data storage, load balancing, security, disaster recovery planning and company continuity planning.
It also covers various types of clouds, such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service and Utility Services; their respective advantages and disadvantages; setting up and managing their cloud infrastructure such as virtual machines, databases and networks.
This course is taught by an experienced instructor who uses engaging videos to explain complex concepts. Designed to introduce students to cloud computing without the need for prior IT or software knowledge, the course also features downloadable resources and quizzes; auditing is free but earning a certificate requires a Udemy subscription.
3. IBM’s Introduction to Cloud Computing
Learning cloud computing through one of the top courses available is an ideal way to embark on your career in this exciting field. These classes can equip you with skills necessary for becoming a data analyst, cybersecurity specialist, or IT professional capable of managing and implementing company’s cloud-based services.
George Mason University offers a bachelor’s degree program in cloud computing that has partnered with AWS to design its curriculum, making this degree accessible from both an online or traditional classroom setting.
IBM provides an excellent course on Coursera that gives an introduction to cloud computing trends. The course covers such areas as software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), hybrid cloud platforms and popular providers like AWS, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure; certification requires subscription to Coursera but auditing is free!
4. Pluralsight’s Introduction to Cloud Computing
Pluralsight may be more expensive (roughly $500-$700 annually to access their full course library), but offers courses to fit a range of skill levels and career objectives – for instance “Cloud Computing Fundamentals”, providing a comprehensive introduction to cloud technology with particular attention paid to emerging trends.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of cloud computing and reviews its various deployment models. Furthermore, they will gain insight into cloud services from a business perspective by reviewing real-life case studies.
An essential aspect of the course is its inclusion of practice questions and mock exams for each topic, providing students with a realistic sense of the level of difficulty and time required for answering each question. This can help students determine how much studying and practice are needed in order to pass the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.
Pluralsight offers not only online learning courses, but also bootcamps and degree programs for those wanting to expand their cloud computing knowledge. From beginner level concepts like DevOps and serverless architecture up to more advanced topics such as DevOps automation.
5. Microsoft’s Azure Fundamentals
If you’re new to cloud computing, this free course can help you understand and build your skills. Self-paced and certificate of completion included; Microsoft also offers instructor-led classes for more structured learning experiences.
This introductory course gives a general introduction to Microsoft Azure platform and its benefits. You will learn how to create, deploy and configure web applications using Azure as well as secure them. This is an ideal course for those beginning their cloud journey, especially since more companies are opting to move data and services into public clouds.
No matter where you’re starting from or looking to advance in your career, these five courses provide the foundation to succeed in cloud computing. There’s bound to be one perfect for you and best of all many are free – why wait any longer – begin your cloud journey now!