Cloud Essentials: Understanding the Fundamentals of Cloud Computing for Non-Developers

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This course is designed to empower non-technical professionals—such as managers, business analysts, QA testers, and operations personnel—with a foundational understanding of cloud computing. Participants will explore the core concepts, benefits, and practical applications of the cloud to make more informed decisions and contribute effectively to cloud migration initiatives. Emphasis will be placed on demystifying cloud jargon, comparing cloud and on-premise infrastructure, understanding service models, and recognizing how cloud impacts various roles within an organization.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Cloud Computing

• What is cloud computing?
• Evolution from on-prem to the cloud
• Why cloud? Understanding the shift
• Common misconceptions about the cloud

Module 2: Core Cloud Terminologies Explained

• Compute, storage, and networking in the cloud
• Elasticity, scalability, availability, redundancy
• Virtual machines, containers, serverless
• APIs and cloud-native applications

Module 3: Cloud Deployment Models

• Public cloud
• Private cloud
• Hybrid cloud
• Multi-cloud strategies and when they make sense

Module 4: Cloud Service Models

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Real-world examples of each model

Module 5: Cloud vs. On-Premises Infrastructure

• Capital vs. operational expenditure
• Flexibility and agility
• Maintenance, patching, and scaling
• Security and compliance differences

Module 6: Business Value and Benefits of the Cloud

• Cost savings and optimization
• Agility and time to market
• High availability and disaster recovery
• Global reach and scalability
• Innovation and faster experimentation

Module 7: Overview of Major Cloud Providers

• AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud overview
• Common services offered by each provider
• How to choose the right provider

Module 8: Shared Responsibility Model

• Who is responsible for what?
• Importance of role-based access control (RBAC)
• Understanding security in the cloud

Module 9: Impact of Cloud on QA and Software Testing

• How testing changes in cloud environments
• Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
• Tools and strategies for testing cloud-native applications

Module 10: Cloud Governance and Compliance

• Identity and Access Management (IAM)
• Policies and standards in cloud
• Data residency, privacy, and legal considerations

Module 11: Introduction to Cloud Migration

• The cloud adoption journey
• Common migration strategies (Rehost, Refactor, Rearchitect, etc.)
• Change management and team readiness

Module 12: Cloud Use Cases and Real-World Scenarios

• DevOps and automation
• Backup and disaster recovery
• Remote collaboration tools
• Scalable testing environments

Module 13: Cloud Cost and Billing Basics

• Understanding pricing models
• Pay-as-you-go vs. reserved instances
• Monitoring and controlling costs

Module 14: Final Wrap-up and Cloud Mindset Shift

• Embracing cloud culture and continuous learning
• Cloud literacy for non-tech teams
• Resources for further learning
• Q&A and discussion