Module 1: Cloud Concepts Overview
AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Objectives
• Define types of cloud computing models
• Describe six key advantages of cloud computing
• Identify AWS service categories and core services
• Understand the AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF)
Module 1: Cloud Concepts Overview AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
1 Introduction to Cloud Computing
1.1 Definition
Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computing services—including compute
power, databases, storage, applications, and other IT resources—over the internet, using
a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
1.2 Infrastructure as Software
Cloud computing shifts the mindset from managing hardware to using infrastructure as
software: flexible, disposable, and scalable.
1.3 Traditional vs. Cloud Computing
Traditional (On-Premises) Cloud Computing
Requires capital investment Pay only for usage (OPEX)
Requires physical space, staff Managed by AWS
Capacity planning is manual Auto-scaling based on demand
Long provisioning cycles Rapid provisioning in minutes
High upfront risk Agile experimentation
1.4 Cloud Service Models
Model Description
IaaS Infrastructure as a Service: Provides compute, net-
working, and storage. You manage OS, runtime, and
apps.
PaaS Platform as a Service: Manages infrastructure and
platform; you focus on app development.
SaaS Software as a Service: Complete applications man-
aged by the provider. You use the software, no in-
frastructure concerns.
1.5 Cloud Deployment Models
• Public Cloud: Fully hosted and managed by AWS; infrastructure shared among
customers.
• Private Cloud: Dedicated infrastructure, often on-premises; higher control and cus-
tomization.
• Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private; sensitive data remains on-premises,
scalable workloads on cloud.
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Module 1: Cloud Concepts Overview AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
2 Advantages of Cloud Computing
2.1 1. Trade Capital Expense for Variable Expense
No upfront investment—pay only for the resources you use.
2.2 2. Benefit from Massive Economies of Scale
AWS reduces costs by pooling and optimizing resources across millions of users.
2.3 3. Stop Guessing Capacity
Auto-scale resources to match actual demand, avoiding over/under-provisioning.
2.4 4. Increase Speed and Agility
Provision servers in minutes, enabling faster innovation and experimentation.
2.5 5. Eliminate Data Center Maintenance
No need to manage physical servers, power, cooling, or IT hardware.
2.6 6. Go Global in Minutes
Deploy applications across multiple regions around the world with a few clicks.
3 Introduction to Amazon Web Services (AWS)
3.1 What is AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a secure cloud platform offering a broad set of on-demand
IT services and tools to help organizations innovate, scale, and operate globally.
3.2 Key AWS Service Categories
• Compute (EC2, Lambda) • Security (IAM, KMS, Shield)
• Storage (S3, EBS, EFS) • Management Tools (CloudWatch,
CloudTrail)
• Databases (RDS, DynamoDB, Au-
rora) • Application Integration (SQS, SNS)
• Networking (VPC, CloudFront) • Machine Learning
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Module 1: Cloud Concepts Overview AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
3.3 Ways to Interact with AWS
• AWS Management Console: A web-based GUI
• AWS CLI: Command line interface for scripting and automation
• AWS SDKs: Software libraries to access AWS from code (e.g., Python, Java)
4 AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (AWS CAF)
4.1 Overview
The AWS CAF helps organizations build a comprehensive plan for cloud adoption across
business and IT domains. It includes six perspectives:
4.2 Six CAF Perspectives
Perspective Focus and Stakeholders
Business IT finance, strategy, business risk
People Training, resource management, HR planning
Governance Project management, compliance, risk
Platform Architecture, provisioning, system design
Security Identity, protection, incident response
Operations Monitoring, continuity, performance tracking
5 Module Summary
• Cloud computing delivers scalable IT resources via the internet on a pay-as-you-go
basis.
• AWS enables treating infrastructure like flexible software instead of physical hard-
ware.
• Cloud service models include IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS; deployment models include
cloud, hybrid, and private.
• Benefits of cloud computing include cost savings, agility, scalability, global reach,
and reduced maintenance.
• AWS offers a comprehensive set of global services across multiple domains.
• The AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) guides organizational transformation
using six strategic perspectives.
Sample Exam Question
Q: Why is AWS more economical than traditional data centers for applications with
varying compute workloads?
A: C. Amazon EC2 instances can be launched on-demand when needed.
