Short Courses: Cloud Computing

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Featured Short Term Courses: Cloud Computing

The Linux Foundation (edX)

The Linux Foundation, founded in 2000, supports open source communities by providing them with intellectual and financial resources, services, infrastructure, training, and events. It offers a short course titled “Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies” through edX, an online MOOC provider. Taught by Linux Foundation experts, this introductory course teaches students about the basics of cloud computing, characteristics of the different cloud technologies, and provides them with the working knowledge on how to choose the right technology stack for their needs.

This short term course does not require any previous cloud experience. The course includes topics such as:

  • Next-generation cloud technologies – Students learn about container and cloud technologies like Cloud Foundry, Docker, OpenStack, and Kubernetes, as well as the tooling around them.
  • Scalable and performant compute, storage, and network solutions – This topic helps students understand networking solutions and software-defined storage.
  • Solutions employed by companies to meet business demands – In this course, students will learn about DevOps and continuous integration practices, as well as the deployment tools used by architects to meet business goals.

Students are provided with the tools and knowledge for making decisions about how to choose applications and cloud services depending on their needs.

After completing this course, students can pursue a verified, instructor-signed certificate with the institution’s logo for verifying their achievements and increasing their job prospects. This certificate can be added to their CV or resume or posted to LinkedIn.

  • Location: San Francisco, California
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: Free
  • Program length: 14 weeks (three to four hours per week)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) (Udemy)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a widely adopted cloud platform used by developers all over the world. A number of organizations such as large enterprises, governments, and startups use AWS to increase agility, lower costs, and innovate at a greater clip.

The “Introduction to Cloud Computing on Amazon AWS for Beginners” is a short term course offered for teaching students about AWS basics and cloud computing concepts. Students gain an understanding of the fundamental systems on which the cloud is based, they develop hands-on skills using core AWS services, and build knowledge from beginner level to advanced concepts.

Designed for cloud computing and AWS beginners, this course requires absolutely no prior experience.

The content of the course includes the following topics: building blocks and cloud computing introduction, understanding complex cloud computing architecture, basics of AWS, using AWS’s IaaS platform and launching virtual servers on Amazon EC2, Amazon Web Service storage services and databases, AWS DevOps, DNS services, serverless computing, loose coupling, AWS certification.

  • Location: N/A
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: $9-$10
  • Program length: 92 lectures (7h 53m total length)

University of Maryland Global Campus (edX)

Founded more than 70 years ago, the University of Maryland Global Campus is an online state university that offers online academic programs in fast-growing and in-demand fields. “Cloud Computing Infrastructure” is an online short course that helps students in learning about designing, configuring, and managing a cloud computing infrastructure.

Focusing on components of infrastructure such as storage, network, and auxiliary services, this course is part of the eight-month micro-master’s cloud computing program. The course also discusses the most popular cloud IaaS deployment architectures.

Students learn how to deploy, configure, and monitor websites in AWS, learn about cloud service models, and also understand computing, storing, networking, and auxiliary services in IaaS offerings on a deeper level.

After completing this course, students can pursue a verified, instructor-signed certificate with the institution’s logo for verifying their achievements and increasing their job prospects. This certificate can be added to their resume or posted to LinkedIn.

  • Location: University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: Free
  • Program length: Eight weeks (eight to ten hours per week)

Pluralsight

Pluralsight is known as “The Technology Skills Platform,” providing opportunities for technological progress and developing new skills. Headquartered in Utah, this platform includes more than 1,500 expert authors, more than 1,700 employees, and is trusted by 70 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. “Cloud Computing: The Big Picture” is a short term online course offered by Pluralsight providing a broad introduction to all aspects of cloud computing.

The course helps its students in exploring the applications in the cloud (such as SaaS), getting an overview of platforms such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, as well as private cloud services.

David Chappell, the principal of Chappell & Associates in San Francisco, California, is the author of this course. He has been a keynote speaker for more than a hundred events, and his seminars have been attended by tens of thousands of people in forty-five countries.

The course does not require students to have any prior knowledge about this topic. The topics that will be covered in this course include cloud applications, cloud platforms, and private clouds. The course serves as a good primer for students who wish to go deeper into more specialized cloud topics.

  • Location: N/A
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: $20
  • Program length: 1h 4m

LearnQuest

For over 20 years, LearnQuest has been the leading provider of business skills training and global IT for government agencies and corporations. It offers virtual, self-paced, and classroom training in a wide variety of formats to match today’s learner needs.

LearnQuest has been involved in designing, developing, and delivering training on hundreds of IT topics such as cloud computing, ALM, IATAM, business analytics, and data management.

The Professional Cloud Solution Architect Certificate Program has been designed by LearnQuest to introduce students to the issues of modern cloud-enabled services and systems and about their impact on hardware, software, business models, and devices. This course is ideal for those who are involved in cloud service architectures within their companies, such as IT personnel.

The program comprises 11 modules:

  • Cloud computing history
  • Cloud computing impact
  • Cloud computing technology engineering
  • Solution architectures
  • Cloud service life cycle
  • Service transition and transformation
  • Consumer perspective on setting up cloud environments
  • Provider perspective on setting up cloud environments
  • Cloud ecosystem
  • Types of XaaS solutions
  • Targeting the right solution architecture

After completing this course, students can achieve some of the core competencies of professional cloud solution architects.

  • Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Classroom, virtual (online), and self-paced training
  • Cost: $1,755
  • Program length: Three days

Google Cloud (Coursera)

The Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services running on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Gmail, Google Search, YouTube, and file storage. It provides an overview of IaaS (infrastructure as a service), PaaS (platform as a service), and serverless computing environments.

The “Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure” course is a 100 percent online course delivered through a popular MOOC platform, Coursera. This course is part of a number of programs such as the Architecting with Google Compute Engine Specialization, the Security in Google Cloud Platform Specialization, the Cloud Engineering with Google Cloud Professional Certificate, and the Networking in Google Cloud Specialization, among others.

The syllabus includes the following: an introduction to Google cloud platform, getting started with Google cloud platform, virtual machines in the cloud, storage in the cloud, containers in the cloud, applications in the cloud, developing, deploying and monitoring in the cloud, and big data and machine learning in the cloud.

  • Location: N/A
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: N/A
  • Program length: One week

University of Illinois (Coursera)

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers the “Cloud Computing Specialization” in collaboration with online course provider Coursera. This cloud computing specialization is part of the master’s in computer science degree (data science track) program, providing a detailed understanding of cloud computing systems, core distributed systems concepts used inside clouds, and cloud networking.

This specialization, offered through Coursera, is a series of courses helping students master cloud computing skills. Students will have to finish a hands-on project to complete this specialization and earn their certificate. After finishing every course in this specialization, students will earn a certificate they can share with prospective employers and their professional network.

There are six courses in this specialization:

  • Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 1
  • Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 2
  • Cloud Computing Applications, Part 1: Cloud Systems and Infrastructure
  • Cloud Computing Applications, Part 2: Big Data and Applications in the Cloud
  • Cloud Networking
  • Cloud Computing Project

Students gain skills in software-defined networking, big data, distributed computing, distributed algorithms, cloud computing, cloud infrastructure, cloud storage, cloud applications, and machine learning.

  • Location: Champaign, Illinois
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: N/A
  • Program length: Specialization (eight months); courses (15 to 23 hours)

Global Knowledge

One of the world’s largest IT training companies, Global Knowledge offers the “Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals for AWS Professionals” short term course introducing AWS professionals to the major components of (GCP) Google cloud platform. These include computing, networking, database, and storage.

This course is ideal for AWS solution professionals who are getting started with Google Cloud Platform, AWS SysOps administrators who are used to building IaaS solutions, or engineers and architects operating in multi-cloud environments.

To apply for this course, students must have basic proficiency with networking technologies like routing and subnets; experience with Amazon EC2 instances, disks, and Amazon VPC; and familiarity with AWS database technologies and Amazon S3.

Students learn about GCP counterparts for Amazon VPC, routes, subnets, NACLs, Amazon EC2, IGW, Amazon EBS, and more. It features instruction in configuring accounts, projects, billing, and networks, as well as how to monitor and manage applications, locate training and documentation, and understand features and pricing models.

  • Location: North Carolina
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: $995
  • Program length: One day

Edureka

Edureka is an online interactive learning platform offering instructor-led live courses catering mainly to working professionals who want to enhance their skills. It offers the AWS architect course preparing students for the AWS certified solutions architect – associate exam SAA-C02.

Students learn how to deploy and build robust and secure applications with AWS. It also helps students identify the right AWS service based on network, databases, storage, compute, security requirements, and cost optimization. The course is ideal for IT professionals who wish to pursue a career in cloud computing and become an AWS certified solutions architect.

The curriculum of this course includes the following: AWS introduction, AWS security management, object storage, Amazon EC2, load balancing and auto-scaling, database services, monitoring and networking services, application services, automation and configuration management, and AWS architectural designs.

  • Location: Online
  • Accreditation: N/A
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: $270
  • Program length: N/A

Indiana University (edX)

Founded in 1820, Indiana University offers the “Digital Ecosystem Infrastructure” short term course, teaching students the fundamentals of cloud computing and its impact on business and IT. This course helps students become familiar with various components of network architecture, cloud computing models, virtualization, the internet of things (IoT), and deployment on the cloud.

Students learn about the fundamentals of application and network architecture; the IoT’s impact on business, risk, and security; governance challenges that are related to cloud computing; and the impact of cloud computing on IT.

At the end of the course, students can also pursue an instructor-signed, verified certificate highlighting their skills and knowledge.

  • Location: Bloomington, Indiana
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
  • Format: Online
  • Cost: Free
  • Program length: 12 weeks (eight to ten hours per week)