Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Describe Cloud Concepts

• Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services over the internet, including virtual machines, storage, databases, and networking, as well as IoT, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

Shared Responsibility Model

• Definition: Outlines the division of security responsibilities between Microsoft and the customer when using Azure services.
• Responsibilities:
  • IaaS: Customer is responsible for virtual machines, operating systems, applications, data, and network controls, while Microsoft manages the physical infrastructure, host operating system, and network.
  • PaaS: Customer focuses on securing applications, data, and identity management, while Microsoft manages the physical infrastructure, network, host operating system, and platform services.
  • SaaS: Customer manages data and user access, while Microsoft takes care of infrastructure, application, and platform security.

Cloud Models

• Private Cloud:
  • Definition: A cloud used by a single entity, providing greater control and security.
  • Use Cases: Regulated industries, custom enterprise applications, high-performance computing.
• Public Cloud:
  • Definition: A cloud built, controlled, and maintained by a third-party cloud provider, accessible to anyone.
  • Use Cases: Scalable applications, development and testing, disaster recovery and backup, SaaS.
• Hybrid Cloud:
  • Definition: An environment that uses both public and private clouds in an interconnected environment.
  • Use Cases: Cloud bursting, disaster recovery, DevOps and agile development, IoT applications.

Consumption-Based Model

• Definition: A pricing model where customers pay only for the resources they use.
• Benefits: No upfront cost, flexible, and cost-efficient for variable workloads.

Cloud Pricing Models

• Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG):
  • Description: Charges based on actual usage of resources.
  • Use Cases: Unpredictable workloads, development and testing, startups, and short-term projects.
• Reserved Instances (RIs):
  • Description: Users commit to using specific resources for a fixed period in exchange for a discount.
  • Use Cases: Steady-state workloads, long-term projects, and predictable usage patterns.
• Spot Instances:
  • Description: Users bid for unused cloud capacity at potentially lower prices.
  • Use Cases: Flexible, non-critical workloads like batch processing, data analysis, and testing.

Serverless Computing

• Definition: A cloud computing execution model where the cloud provider automatically manages the infrastructure.

• Key Characteristics:

  • Abstraction of Servers: Developers do not need to manage server infrastructure.
  • Event-Driven: Applications and services are triggered by events.
  • Scalability: Automatically scales in response to the workload.
  • Pay-Per-Use: Users are billed based on actual usage.
  • Managed Services: Azure provides managed services like Azure Functions, Azure Logic Apps, and Azure Event Grid.

• Benefits: Focus on code, cost efficiency, automatic scaling, increased productivity, and integration.### Event-Driven Applications

• Developing applications that respond to events from various sources, such as user actions, system changes, or external triggers.

Benefits of Cloud Services

High Availability and Scalability

• High Availability: maximum availability, regardless of disruptions or events that may occur.
• Scalability: the ability to adjust resources to meet demand; cost-saving as you only pay for what you use.
• Types of Scalability:
  • Vertical Scaling: increasing power and resources to a single system (e.g., adding more CPU or RAM).
  • Horizontal Scaling: increasing resources by adding more systems (e.g., adding more virtual machines).

Reliability and Predictability

• Reliability: the ability of a system to recover from failures and continue to function.
• Predictability: the ability to forecast performance and cost.
• Factors influencing predictability:
  • Performance: predicting resources needed to deliver a positive customer experience.
  • Cost: predicting or forecasting cloud spend.
• Tools for predicting cost:
  • Cloud analytics and information
  • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) or Pricing Calculator

Security and Governance

• Governance: ensuring resources meet corporate standards and regulatory requirements.
• Security: maximizing control of security; physical resources, operating systems, and software patches.
• Cloud-based auditing helps flag non-compliant resources.

Manageability

• Management of the Cloud: managing cloud resources.
• Management in the Cloud: managing cloud environment and resources using tools like PowerShell.

Cloud Service Types

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Most flexible category of cloud services
• Cloud provider maintains hardware, network connectivity, and physical security
• User responsible for operating system, configuration, and maintenance
• Use cases:
  • Disaster recovery
  • Development and testing

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Middle ground between IaaS and SaaS
• Cloud provider maintains physical infrastructure, operating systems, middleware, and development tools
• User responsible for networking settings, application security, and directory infrastructure
• Use cases:
  • Web and mobile app development
  • Microservices architecture
  • API development and management

Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Most complete cloud service model
• Cloud provider maintains all aspects of the application
• User responsible for data, devices, and user access
• Use cases:
  • Email and collaboration
  • Customer relationship management (CRM)
  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Identifying Appropriate Use Cases

• IaaS: disaster recovery, development and testing
• PaaS: web and mobile app development, microservices architecture, API development and management
• SaaS: email and collaboration, CRM, ERP