Foundations of Cloud Computing Flashcards
Cloud Computing
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.
AWS Category: Compute services
Enable users to run and manage applications, workloads and virtualised servers in the cloud (e.g. EC2, Lambda).
AWS Category: Storage
Cloud-based storage services providing scalable, durable and cost-effective solutions (e.g. S3, EBS).
AWS Category: Development
Services and tools to support developers in building, deploying and managing applications in the cloud (e.g. Cloud9, CodeCommit).
AWS Category: Databases
Database services catering to different data storage and processing needs (e.g. RDS, DynamoDB).
AWS Category: Networking
Help users design, deploy and manage network infrastructure in the cloud (e.g. VPC, Direct Connect).
AWS Category: Analytics
A range of analytics services to derive insights from user data (e.g. Athena, Redshift).
AWS Category: Security
Set of security services designed to protect data, applications and infrastructure in the cloud (e.g. IAM, Macie).
Virtual Machines
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.
6 Advantages of Cloud Computing
- Go global in minutes.
- Stop spending money running and maintaining data centres.
- Benefit from massive economies of scale (pay-as-you-go prices).
- Increased speed and agility.
- Stop guessing capacity (your capacity is matched to demand).
- Trade capital expenses for variable expense (pay what you use and avoid upfront investment).
Cloud Benefit: High Availability
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.
Cloud Benefit: Elasticity
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.
Cloud Benefit: Agility
The cloud gives you increased agility. All the services you have access to help you innovate faster, giving you speed to market.
Cloud Benefit: Durability
Durability is all about long-term data protection. This means your data will remain intact without corruption.
Cloud Computing Models: IaaS
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.
Cloud Computing Models: SaaS
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.
Cloud Computing Models: PaaS
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.
Cloud Deployment Models: Private Cloud
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.
Cloud Deployment Models: Public Cloud
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.
Cloud Deployment Models: Hybrid Cloud
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.
Region
A physical location housing AWS infrastructure. Each region is fully independent and isolated geographically, they’re also resource and service specific (no automatic replication).
Availability Zone (AZ)
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.
Edge Location
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.
Latency
The time that passes between a user request and the resulting response.
Root User
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.
AWS CLI
AWS Command Line Interface allows you to access AWS account through terminal or command window.
