AZ-900 1.4: Cloud Benefits (Study Guide) Flashcards
What is a common misconception about cloud computing, and why is it inaccurate?
A common misconception is that cloud computing is simply paying for someone else’s computer without owning anything. This is inaccurate because it overlooks the substantial benefits that come with renting cloud infrastructure.
1.4.1
What is the fundamental advantage of cloud computing compared to traditional on-premise setups?
The fundamental advantage is that it allows users to achieve things better and faster compared to traditional on-premise computing due to the flexibility of renting the infrastructure instead of owning and maintaining it.
1.4.1
Name three of the seven definable benefits of cloud computing that will be discussed in this section, and that are relevant to the AZ-900 exam.
Three of the seven definable benefits are high availability, scalability, and reliability.
1.4.1
What is the difference in ease of implementation for the benefits of cloud computing versus on-premise computing?
The text suggests that these benefits are much easier to take advantage of with cloud computing than with traditional on-premise computing, due to the nature of renting versus owning infrastructure.
1.4.1
What does the source mean by saying cloud computing enables things to be done “better and faster than ever before”?
This means that cloud computing enables faster and more efficient processes compared to traditional systems through things like infrastructure management and resource scaling.
1.4.1
What is the key insight that those with prior experience with maintaining computer infrastructure need to consider when learning about cloud benefits?
The key insight is that while their existing knowledge is valuable, a different approach is required to appreciate the specific benefits of cloud computing beyond basic infrastructure concepts.
1.4.1
What is the core idea of cloud computing that is sometimes mistaken as a downside, but is actually the source of key benefits?
The core idea is that you are essentially renting someone else’s computer infrastructure. While this is sometimes seen as a downside, it is the core of cloud computing’s benefits.
1.4.1
What is the significance of understanding the core benefits of cloud services, as outlined by the source?
Understanding the core benefits is crucial to fully appreciate and leverage the vast power that is available in cloud computing and the services offered on platforms like Azure.
1.4.1
What does the source imply is required to “fully grasp” the advantages of the cloud?
To “fully grasp” the advantages of cloud, it is important to understand not only the key terminology but also the core benefits of cloud services.
1.4.1
What is the primary purpose of the section introduced in this excerpt, and what will it focus on?
The primary purpose of the section is to explore the definable benefits of cloud computing, specifically including high availability, scalability, reliability, predictability, security, governance, and manageability, as they relate to the AZ-900 exam.
1.4.1
What is high availability in the context of cloud computing?
High availability is the ability of a computer system to continue functioning even if some of its components fail. This ensures that a system remains available despite interruptions or disruptions.
1.4.2
Why is high availability important for businesses?
High availability is critical for businesses, especially those with mission-critical systems, because downtime can lead to financial loss and damage to the company’s reputation and revenue.
1.4.2
What is the primary method to achieve high availability, and how does it work?
The primary method for achieving high availability is redundancy, which involves spreading the workload across multiple servers. This ensures that if one server fails, others can take over.
1.4.2
How does cloud computing differ from traditional IT infrastructure in terms of creating new servers for high availability?
Cloud computing allows for the instant creation of new servers, while traditional IT infrastructures have a limited number of servers that take time and money to acquire.
1.4.2
What is scaling, and why is it essential in a cloud environment?
Scaling is the ability to increase or decrease resources to meet the demands of customers. It’s essential in the cloud to handle fluctuating traffic and user load effectively.
1.4.2
How does the cloud address scaling challenges compared to traditional on-premises environments?
The cloud allows for automatic and instant addition or removal of servers, whereas traditional on-premises environments require manual setup and more time to scale.
1.4.2
What is a load balancer and how is it used to support scaling?
A load balancer distributes traffic across multiple virtual machines or servers. This ensures no single server is overwhelmed and supports efficient scaling.
1.4.2
Explain horizontal scaling (scaling out).
Horizontal scaling involves adding additional copies of existing virtual machines or servers to distribute the load. It is automatic and typically does not require downtime.
1.4.2
Explain vertical scaling (scaling up).
Vertical scaling involves increasing the resources (e.g., CPU, memory) of an existing server. It is usually a manual process and requires downtime to implement.
1.4.2
What is the main difference between horizontal and vertical scaling in terms of implementation and downtime?
Horizontal scaling is automatic and requires no downtime because new instances are added or removed, while vertical scaling requires manual changes to the existing machine, usually involving downtime.
1.4.2
Define reliability in the context of cloud computing.
Reliability is the ability of a cloud system to recover from failures and disasters, ensuring it continues to function with minimal downtime. It focuses on the system’s resilience and ability to bounce back from incidents.
1.4.3
How does a decentralized design contribute to cloud reliability?
A decentralized design supports cloud reliability by eliminating single points of failure. If one component goes down, others can pick up the load, maintaining service continuity.
1.4.3
Explain the concept of global scale computing and its importance in reliability.
Global scale computing involves deploying solutions to multiple locations worldwide. This ensures that if one region fails, others can maintain application availability, and it places the application closer to users globally.
1.4.3
What is the difference between high availability and reliability?
High availability aims to reduce downtime, but does not guarantee zero downtime, while reliability focuses on making systems resilient enough to recover automatically from failures.
1.4.3
Define predictable performance in the context of cloud services.
Predictable performance means that a service or application maintains a consistent level of performance regardless of its usage load or the location of the users.
1.4.3
What are some of the cloud benefits that contribute to predictable performance?
Autoscaling, particularly horizontal scaling, high availability, and load balancing are all cloud benefits that help in achieving predictable performance by ensuring resources are available when needed and that load is well-distributed.
1.4.3
Why is it essential to follow cloud-native best practices when deploying an application for predictable performance?
Following cloud-native best practices ensures that applications are designed from the beginning to take advantage of cloud benefits like scalability and resilience, which are needed for predictable performance.
1.4.3
What is the Well-Architected Framework?
The Well-Architected Framework is a set of best practices provided by Microsoft (for Azure), to guide users in designing applications that leverage cloud benefits to their full potential and provides guidance to ensure reliable, performant, and cost-effective cloud deployments.
1.4.3
Explain the concept of predictable costs.
Predictable costs refer to the ability to accurately track current cloud costs and forecast future costs without unexpected surprises. This includes tools to manage and optimize cloud spending.
1.4.3
How do cloud vendors help users achieve predictable costs?
Cloud vendors provide tools like real-time tracking of cloud usage, pricing calculators, and cost forecasting tools. These enable users to monitor and control spending, optimize resource utilization, and prevent unexpected bills.
1.4.3
How does the cloud allow for flexible security control, and what are some examples of how this is implemented?
The cloud allows users to choose their level of security control. For example, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offers maximum control, while Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) handle more security automatically.
1.4.4
Explain how Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) differs from Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Software as a Service (SaaS) in terms of security responsibility.
With IaaS, the user manages the operating system and installed software, including patches and maintenance. PaaS and SaaS solutions typically handle these elements automatically for the user.
1.4.4
What is the primary purpose of governance in a cloud environment, and why is it important?
Governance ensures that corporate and regulatory standards are enforced in a cloud environment. It’s important to maintain consistent and compliant resource management.
1.4.4
Describe two automated enforcement tools provided by cloud vendors for governance, and give examples of how they are used.
One is encryption standards, where policies require all resources to be encrypted, and location restrictions, which ensure resources are deployed in specific geographic areas, often for data sovereignty.
1.4.4
What are some of the compliance standards that governance tools can help a cloud user adhere to? Give two examples.
Two compliance standards are GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), although there are many others as well.
1.4.4
Explain the difference between “manageability of the cloud” and “manageability in the cloud.”
“Manageability of the cloud” refers to how cloud resources are controlled, especially through automation. “Manageability in the cloud” refers to how users interact with and configure those cloud resources.
1.4.4
Give some examples of how cloud resources can be automatically controlled using the manageability of the cloud.
Cloud resources can be scaled automatically based on need and traffic, deployed from pre-configured templates, and have failed resources automatically replaced.
1.4.4
How do cloud users interact with their resources in a cloud environment, using management in the cloud?
Cloud users interact with resources through web portals, command-line interfaces, and programmatic APIs that allow automated applications to control resources.
1.4.4
What is the cloud benefit of security?
The cloud benefit of security is that it provides users their chosen level of control and flexibility regarding security.
1.4.4
What are some ways that the cloud allows users to monitor the health of their resources and automatically make changes?
Health can be monitored with tools providing alerts when performance metrics are out of range, and the system can automatically replace any failed resources.
1.4.4
