Unit 28: Cloud Computing

Unit code K/618/7442

Unit level 5

Credit value 15

This unit is aligned to the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification. See section 3.1.4 for
guidance on claiming certification.

Introduction
Cloud computing has revolutionised the way IT services are delivered and has
become an important part of the computing sector. Cloud computing is
internet-hosted computing, which means that it uses the internet to deliver data
and other IT services such as storage, printing, server facilities. In other words,
end users and organisations no longer need to have their own extensive network
environment on the premises but can get the same services provided virtually
over the internet.
The fundamental difference between traditional networking and cloud computing
is that the technical details of the system are hidden from the end user. This
means the networking infrastructure does not have to be on the premises as it
would be hosted off-site in the cloud. However, the end user can use the services
without the fear of technical difficulties or disasters as they would be managed
by the cloud service provider. Cloud computing is a natural evolution of
networking and is adapting modern network-oriented technologies such as
virtualisation, service-oriented architecture, utility computing and ubiquitous
computing.
This unit is designed to develop understanding of the fundamental concept of
cloud computing, cloud segments and cloud deployment models and the need
for cloud computing. Students will gain appreciation of issues associated with
managing cloud service architecture and develop a critical awareness of
cloud-computing-based projects. Topics included in the unit are the paradigms
of networking, fundamentals of cloud computing, cloud computing architecture,
deployment models, service models, security, technological drivers and cloud
service providers.
On successful completion of this unit, students will understand the concept,
architecture and services of cloud computing. They will have hands-on experience
of configuring a cloud service from major providers such as ECM, Google,
Amazon, Microsoft and IBM and of implementing a simple cloud platform using
open source software with an appropriate networking platform. As a result,
students will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking,
analysis, reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment
and developing academic competence.

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Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of cloud computing and
its architectures
LO2 Evaluate the deployment models, service models and technological drivers
of cloud computing and validate their use
LO3 Develop cloud computing solutions using service provider frameworks and
open source tools
LO4 Analyse the technical challenges for cloud applications and assess their risks.

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Essential Content

LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of cloud computing and

its architectures

Networking paradigm:

Peer-to-peer computing, client-server computing, distributed computing, cluster

computing, high-performance computing, parallel computing, grid computing.

Cloud computing fundamentals:

Definition and history of cloud computing, principles of cloud computing,

cloud ecosystem, cloud architecture and infrastructure, virtualisation,
network connectivity, managing the cloud, application migration to the
cloud.
Explore storage virtualisation, including storage architecture for
virtualisation; physical disk types and related techniques; difference between
centralised and distributed storage, virtualised and non-virtualised storage
features, difference between capex and opex, methods for planning and
managing costs and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

LO2 Evaluate the deployment models, service models and technological drivers of
cloud computing and validate their use

Deployment models:

Private cloud, public cloud, community cloud, hybrid cloud.

Service models:

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) a form of cloud computing providing virtualised

computing resources over the internet.
Platform as a service (PaaS), providing a complete development and deployment
environment.
Software as a service (SaaS), offering users access to a vendor’s cloud-based
software.
Analytics as a service (AaaS), offering provision of analytics software
and operations through web-delivered technologies.
Cloud computing use cases.

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 Technological drivers:

Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), virtualisation and cloud computing,

multicore technology, memory and storage technology, networking
technology, Web 2.0, & 3.0, software process models for cloud,
programming models, pervasive computing, application environment.
Explore architecture and components used for virtualisation, and traffic
flows between VMs.

LO3 Develop cloud computing solutions using service provider frameworks and
open source tools

Cloud Service Providers (CSPs):

Explore the features of different cloud service providers and virtualisation

software, e.g. Microsoft, EMC, Google, Amazon Web Services, IBM, VMware,
KVM, FusionCompute.

CSP architectural components:

Explain architectural components using service provider terminology,

e.g. regions, zones, resource groups, subscriptions, management groups.

CSP core resources, core solutions and management tools:

Compute, networking and storage.

Describe service provider’s core solutions, e.g. IoT solutions, Big Data
Analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, DevOps.
Describe CSP management tools, e.g. Azure Portal, AWS Management Console,
Command Line Interface (CLI), Cloud Shell, and application monitoring.

CSP cost management and service level agreements (SLAs):

Factors affecting cost, pricing calculators, reducing costs, forecasting costs.

Purpose of SLAs and factors affecting them.

Open source:

Open source tools for IaaS, open source tools for PaaS, open source tools
for SaaS, distributed computing tools, e.g. Cassandra, Hadoop, MongoDB,
NGrid, Ganglia.

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LO4 Analyse the technical challenges for cloud applications and assess their risks

Security aspects:

Data security, virtualisation, network security, alerts, resource hygiene,

defence in depth.
Identity, including authentication and authorisation.
Governance, including role-based access control, policy and templates.
Privacy and compliance.

Platform-related security:

SaaS Security issues, PaaS Security Issues, IaaS Security Issues, Audit and
Compliance.

CSP security features:

Describe CSP security features, e.g. Azure Security Centre, Key Vault, AWS
GuardDuty, Azure Sentinel, Dedicated Hosts, Network Security Groups
(NSG), DDoS protection.

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Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of the
fundamentals of cloud computing and its architectures

P1 Analyse the M1 Discuss why an D1 Justify the tools chosen

evolution and organisation should to realise a cloud
fundamental concepts migrate to a cloud computing solution.
of cloud computing. computing solution.

P2 Design an appropriate
architectural cloud
computing framework
for a given scenario.

LO2 Evaluate the deployment models, service models

and technological drivers of cloud computing and
validate their use

P3 Define an appropriate M2 Demonstrate

deployment model for a selected deployment
given scenario. models with real-world
examples.
P4 Compare the
service models for
choosing an adequate
model for a given
scenario.

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Pass Merit Distinction
LO3 Develop cloud computing solutions using
service provider frameworks and open source tools

P5 Configure a cloud M3 Discuss the issues D2 Critically discuss how

computing platform and constraints that can issues and constraints
with a cloud service be faced during the during the development
provider’s development process. process can be overcome.
framework.
P6 Implement a
cloud platform using
open source tools.

LO4 Analyse the technical challenges for cloud

applications and assess their risks

P7 Analyse the most M4 Discuss how to D3 Critically discuss howan

common problems that overcome security organisation should
arise in a cloud issues when building a protect its data when
computing platform and secure cloud platform. migrating to a cloud
discuss appropriate solution.
solutions.

P8 Assess the most

common security
issues in cloud
environments.