Cloud Computing Training Courses

The first step to building out a cloud computing training program is actually understanding what this delivery model is.

Cloud computing is an IT model that delivers compute power, storage space, applications, and other resources on demand. The result is a pay-as-you-go economic model that promotes speed and agility in IT operations. Additionally, the widespread shift to the cloud reduces (and often eliminates) the need for complex, on-premises equipment that require significant resources to maintain.

There are many nuances of cloud computing as a concept, but there are three main approaches that businesses will take advantage of:

• Software as a Service (SaaS): A complete product is run and managed by the service provider and delivered via the internet. These are typically the applications your employees use day in and day out.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): In this case, the infrastructure is managed by a service provider while developers can build and manage applications within the environment.
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): The least-complete type of cloud computing, IaaS offers the building blocks of IT for businesses to control. From networking features to data storage, IaaS gives you on-premises IT resources without the CapEx economic model.

The reality is that IT teams must be well-versed in each type of cloud computing. The modern IT infrastructure will consist of a mix of each type.

As you plan out your cloud computing training program, include courses that cover each type as well as the platforms that deliver them.

Cloud computing as we know it today has really only existed for about 15 years. Even the most experienced IT professionals have had to start from square one when it comes to cloud computing. That gives talent development departments an opportunity to give their IT teams a competitive advantage with the right cloud computing training program.

Whether your team is just starting down the path of cloud computing or starting to take on more advanced capabilities, you can provide access to cloud computing courses that help at every stage.

A few examples of valuable courses include:

• Cloud Architecture: Get familiar with the business and tech-related basics of building a cloud architecture. Your employees can learn the fundamentals and then get started with making cloud computing a core piece of an organization.
• Serverless Computing: Perhaps the next iteration of cloud computing, serverless allows a business to build and run applications/services without managing any infrastructure at all. Here, employees can learn the key use cases for serverless computing.
• Career Paths and Certifications: For employees just starting out in cloud computing, this course can help lay out the possible career paths and introduce them to possible certifications.
• Cloud Governance: In some ways, cloud computing can become as complicated as traditional on-premises infrastructure. Governance is the process of applying policies and principles to cloud computing services to ensure security and compliance. This course goes into the tools and processes necessary to maintain governance.
• Advanced Cloud Architecture: Once a team has a handle on the cloud computing basics, it’s important to move onto advanced concepts to unlock competitive advantages. This course focuses on microservices, serverless computing, different ways to deploy cloud resources, and more.
• Cloud Computing Networking: Adopting cloud computing isn’t just about choosing from one of the main platforms. Your IT team needs a deep understanding of how networking works and how the cloud impacts traditional connectivity.
• Cloud Computing Storage: Of all the different cloud computing services, storage is the most widely used. Knowing the ins and outs of storage planning, budgeting, and security is essential and this course provides a comprehensive overview.
• Cloud Monitoring and Operations: If you want to keep track of the health, performance, and security of your entire stack running in the cloud, you'll need a workforce that understands monitoring and operations. This course goes over several possible solutions and explains the basics of keeping track of cloud computing infrastructure.

There are hundreds of potential courses to include in a cloud computing training program. What’s more important is piecing them together in a way that properly motivates and educates the workforce. That requires strategic planning for individual paths in the cloud computing discipline.