Overview

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Build a solid foundation in cloud computing and Microsoft Azure's global infrastructure. This course introduces core cloud concepts, including deployment models, consumption-based pricing, and the difference between CapEx and OpEx, so you can speak confidently about cloud strategy and cost. You'll learn to distinguish IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and apply the Shared Responsibility Model to clarify which security and management tasks belong to you versus your cloud provider. You'll also explore how Azure organizes resources through regions, availability zones, subscriptions, and resource groups to support resilience, compliance, and cost control. Through videos, quizzes, and hands-on role-play scenarios, you'll practice applying these concepts to real business situations, like advising a client on cloud strategy or structuring an Azure environment for a sample workload. This course prepares you for roles in cloud administration, IT operations, and technical consulting. It's designed for IT professionals, business leaders, developers, and aspiring cloud administrators. No prior cloud or programming experience is required. Who this is for: IT professionals, business leaders, developers, and aspiring cloud administrators. No prior cloud or programming experience is required.

Syllabus

Cloud Computing Foundations
- This module introduces the core concepts of cloud computing and lays the foundation for the rest of the specialization. You will learn what the cloud is, how the main deployment models differ, and how cloud economics — CapEx vs OpEx and the consumption-based model — change the way organizations pay for IT. By the end, you will be able to explain the key benefits of the cloud, such as scalability, elasticity, and high availability, in clear business terms.
Cloud Service & Shared Responsibility Models
- This module explores the three cloud service models — IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS — and helps you understand which to choose for different workloads. You will also learn the shared responsibility model, which clarifies exactly which security and management tasks belong to the customer versus the cloud provider. By the end, you will be able to match a business need to the right service model and correctly assign responsibility for tasks such as patching, data protection, and physical security.
Core Azure Architectural Components
- This module covers the fundamental building blocks used to organize and deploy resources in Azure. You will learn how regions, region pairs, and availability zones support resilience and data residency, and how subscriptions and resource groups are used to structure, manage, and bill resources. By the end, you will be able to design a basic Azure organizational structure that meets availability, compliance, and cost-separation needs.