Foundations of Cloud Computing

Question 1

Cloud Computing

Answer 1

On-demand delivery of compute power, database, storage, applications, and other IT resources through a cloud services platform via the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Question 2

AWS Category: Compute services

Answer 2

Enable users to run and manage applications, workloads and virtualised servers in the cloud (e.g. EC2, Lambda).

Question 3

AWS Category: Storage

Answer 3

Cloud-based storage services providing scalable, durable and cost-effective solutions (e.g. S3, EBS).

Question 4

AWS Category: Development

Answer 4

Services and tools to support developers in building, deploying and managing applications in the cloud (e.g. Cloud9, CodeCommit).

Question 5

AWS Category: Databases

Answer 5

Database services catering to different data storage and processing needs (e.g. RDS, DynamoDB).

Question 6

AWS Category: Networking

Answer 6

Help users design, deploy and manage network infrastructure in the cloud (e.g. VPC, Direct Connect).

Question 7

AWS Category: Analytics

Answer 7

A range of analytics services to derive insights from user data (e.g. Athena, Redshift).

Question 8

AWS Category: Security

Answer 8

Set of security services designed to protect data, applications and infrastructure in the cloud (e.g. IAM, Macie).

Question 9

Virtual Machines

Answer 9

A software based emulation of a physical computer. Operates in an isolated environment, known as virtualised environment, created by virtualisation software. This software allows multiple VMs to run on a single physical machine.

Question 10

6 Advantages of Cloud Computing

Answer 10

1. Go global in minutes.
2. Stop spending money running and maintaining data centres.
3. Benefit from massive economies of scale (pay-as-you-go prices).
4. Increased speed and agility.
5. Stop guessing capacity (your capacity is matched to demand).
6. Trade capital expenses for variable expense (pay what you use and avoid upfront investment).

Question 11

Cloud Benefit: High Availability

Answer 11

Highly available systems are designed to operate continuously without failure for a long time. These systems avoid loss of service by reducing or managing failures.

Question 12

Cloud Benefit: Elasticity

Answer 12

With elasticity, you don’t have to plan ahead of time how much capacity you need. You can provision only what you need, and then grow and shrink based on demand.

Question 13

Cloud Benefit: Agility

Answer 13

The cloud gives you increased agility. All the services you have access to help you innovate faster, giving you speed to market.

Question 14

Cloud Benefit: Durability

Answer 14

Durability is all about long-term data protection. This means your data will remain intact without corruption.

Question 15

Cloud Computing Models: IaaS

Answer 15

Infrastructure as a Service = Fundamental Building Blocks. Provides virtualised computing infrastructure over the internet, allowing users to rent virtual machines, storage, and networking resources on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Question 16

Cloud Computing Models: SaaS

Answer 16

Software as a Service = Complete Application. Delivers a software applications over the internet on subscription basis. Users can access and use the software through web browser with no need for installation or maintenance.

Question 17

Cloud Computing Models: PaaS

Answer 17

Platform as a Service = Used by Developers. A platform allowing developers to build, deploy and manage applications without complexities of underlaying infrastructure. Includes tools and services for app development.

Question 18

Cloud Deployment Models: Private Cloud

Answer 18

Also known as “on-premises”, as it exists in internal data centres. The same deployment as legacy IT infrastructure while using application management and virtualization technologies to try and increase resource utilization.

Question 19

Cloud Deployment Models: Public Cloud

Answer 19

Fully deployed in the cloud and all parts of the application run in the cloud, meaning you aren’t responsible for the physical hardware and can take advantage of all cloud computing benefits.

Question 20

Cloud Deployment Models: Hybrid Cloud

Answer 20

A way to connect infrastructure and applications between cloud-based resources and existing resources that are not located in the cloud.

E.g. highly sensitive data stored locally, while web apps run on AWS infrastructure, all linked with AWS Direct Connect.

Question 21

Region

Answer 21

A physical location housing AWS infrastructure. Each region is fully independent and isolated geographically, they’re also resource and service specific (no automatic replication).

Question 22

Availability Zone (AZ)

Answer 22

Consists of one or more physically separated data centres, each with redundant power, networking, and connectivity.

AZs in a single region are connected through low-latency links, they’re fault tolerant and allow for high availability.

Question 23

Edge Location

Answer 23

Like a mini data centre, but it doesn’t run your main infrastructure like EC2. It’s used to cache content for fast delivery to your users = reduced latency.

Question 24

Latency

Answer 24

The time that passes between a user request and the resulting response.

Question 25

Root User

Answer 25

Created after initial sign-up for the AWS account, with full administrative privileges and access to all resources.

It’s crucial to secure it with MFA (multi-factor authentication) and use IAM (Identity and Access Management) to create and manage additional users.

Question 26

AWS CLI

Answer 26

AWS Command Line Interface allows you to access AWS account through terminal or command window.