Overview

This course examines the design and operation of hybrid and multicloud solutions and systems. You’ll explore how organizations plan, structure, and govern environments that span on-premises infrastructure and multiple cloud providers. The course covers foundational concepts such as cloud service models, deployment patterns, connectivity, cost accountability, and governance. You’ll also examine architectural topics including availability, resilience, workload portability, data placement, observability, and security across distributed systems. Advanced sections introduce automation, infrastructure as code, reliability patterns, and operational trade-offs in complex environments. Through videos, readings, podcasts, scenarios, and a final project, the course presents real-world considerations that influence architectural decisions. The content emphasizes clear terminology, common patterns, and practical constraints that shape hybrid and multicloud designs in enterprise settings.

Syllabus

Module 1: Hybrid and Multicloud Foundations

In this module, you’ll explore the core concepts behind hybrid and multicloud environments. You’ll learn how organizations combine on-premises infrastructure with multiple cloud providers and how service models, deployment patterns, governance requirements, and lock-in risk influence design choices. You'll complete the module with knowledge of the terminology, structures, and decision drivers that shape hybrid and multicloud strategies.

Module 2: Architecture and Network Design

In this module, you’ll examine architecture and network design approaches used in hybrid and multicloud environments. You’ll explore availability and redundancy patterns, workload portability using containers, and global routing and failover strategies. Use the hands-on lab opportunities to learn how hybrid cloud architects compare tradeoffs and select patterns that support resilience and portability across providers.

Module 3: Data, Recovery, and Automation Governance

In this module, you’ll explore how data placement, replication, recovery objectives, and automation governance affect hybrid and multicloud architectures. You’ll examine latency and sovereignty considerations, replication and recovery models, and policy controls in Infrastructure as Code and deployment pipelines. Through scenario-based hands-on experiences, you’ll analyze how governance and automation practices support consistency and risk control.

Module 4: Final Project, Final Quiz, and Course Wrap-Up

In this module, you’ll complete a graded, shareable final project that brings together the design concepts covered throughout the course. You’ll review a realistic hybrid and multicloud scenario, evaluate architecture choices, and document your design decisions. You'll submit your answers for immediate grading through Mark, IBM's AI-based assessment tool, Mark. Take advantage of the course glossary and the course recap, which revisit the major concept areas explored across the modules. Then check out what's next for growing your skills.