2 Introduction to Cloud Concepts

In the previous chapter, we were introduced to cloud computing and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. In this chapter, we’ll dive right into learning about cloud concepts, which help us define the value proposition of cloud computing over legacy IT infrastructure - or what we consider traditional IT infrastructure. You can think of legacy or traditional IT infrastructure as a room filled with lots of servers, monitors, and networking cables. It’s what movies and TV shows generally portray as the “IT room.”

In this chapter, we’ll learn about the 6 advantages of cloud computing, 3 types of cloud computing models, 3 types of cloud computing deployments, and design principles in cloud computing. By the end of this chapter, we’ll have a better understanding of why cloud computing has swept the IT world by storm over the last decade, and how it’s different from how we’ve been doing IT in the previous decades with legacy IT systems.

2.1 Cloud Concepts Introduced

2.2 Advantages of Cloud Computing

2.2.1 Trade capital expense for variable expense

2.2.2 Benefit from massive economies of scale

2.2.3 Stop guessing capacity

2.2.4 Increase speed and agility

2.2.5 Stop spending money running and maintaining data centers

2.2.6 Go global in minutes

2.2.7 Section Quiz

2.3 Types of Cloud Computing Models

2.3.1 Software as a Service (SaaS)

2.3.2 Platform as a Service (PaaS)

2.3.3 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

2.3.4 Section Quiz

2.4 Types of Cloud Computing Deployments

2.4.1 Cloud

2.4.2 Hybrid

2.4.3 On-Premises

2.4.4 Section Quiz

2.5 Pillars of Well-Architected Framework

2.5.1 Operational Excellence

2.5.2 Security